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M.EMOI RS
OF THE RIGHT REVEREND
SIMON WM. GABRIEL BRUTÉ, D.D.,
\ \ \
FIRST BISHOP OF VINCENNES "
�
WITH
SKETCHES DESCRIBING HIS RECOLLECTIONS
OF SCENES CONNECTED WITH THE
FRENCH REVOLUTION,
AND
EXTRACTS. FROM HIS JOURNAL...
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By'THE
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NEW YORK:
THE CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY,
9 W ARR�N STREET.
1876.





CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface,
Life of Bishop Bruté,
Sketches,
Trial of Rev. Mr. Raoul and the Sisters,
Rev. Mr. Touchet, Rector of St. Bélier,
Death of Rev. Mr. Sorette,
Death of Rev. Mr. Duval,
The Priest and Peasant, .
The Rev. Mr. Tostivint and the Marquis and Mar­
chioness De Bedée,
The Rev. Mr. Sacquet,
The Rev. Mr. Poirier,
j-12
13-106
108
n8-123
124-:126
127-135
136-137
138-140
141-143
144-147
The Rector of Guignen and his Vicar, .
The Rev. Mr. Clement, .
The Death of the Rev. Mr. La Moine,
The Death of the Rev. Mr. Gautier of Brutz,
The Banishment of the Rev_ Mr. Delaitre,
The Brother of the Christian Schools,
Father Kergaté,
Two Brothers put to death together,
Mr. Boisleve,
148-152
· 153-154
· 155-158
· 15<)-160
· 161-167
· 168-169
170
• 171-172
173-174
· 175-178


4
Contents.
PAGE
The Rev. Mr. Marechal and the Countesses De Renac, 179-I88
Tbe War in La Vendée,
The Prineeof Rieux and Mr. Joyaux,
Armand de Montluc,
Our Sundays in 1793,
The Hospital of the Incurables,
Thirty Years, and more, ago,
Mr. Bouvet,
Journal, •
Appendix,
· 18g-192
193-195
196-199.
• 200-206
• 207-212
• 213-215
• 216-217
• 218-261
• 263-269


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
I. Portrait of Bishop Bruté, engraved by O'Neill.
FROM SKETCHES BY BISHOP BRUTE.
2. Palais de Justice, Rennes, his birthplace,
12
3. Cathedral, Bishop's Residence, &c., Rennes,. . face 24
4. Rev. Mr. Poirier and the Guillotine (see p. 148), . face 109
5. Rev. Mr. Raoul and the three Sisters of La Chapelle St.
Aubert before the Revolutionary Tribunal, . face 120
6. The Curate of Guignen endeavouring to shield his aged
Pastor from the balls of the soldiers,
. face 154
7. Rev. Mr. Gautier of Brutz anointing in the wagon on the
. way to execution a countryman mortally wound ed in
endeavouring to save him, . face 162
8. Rev. Mr. Clement and the Sentry (see pIlS), . . 217
9. Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes, '. 262
Fig. 1 marks the site of the ancient Jesuit Chapel.
5





PREFACE
I T may be proper for me to state in what
manner the following Papers came into
my possession, and the reasons which have in­
duced me to publish them. In I847, Mon­
-seignor De la Hailandiere, the successor of
Bishop Brutê in the See of Vincennes, pre­
sented to the Most Rev. Archbishop (then
Bishop) of New York a large number of MSS.
which had belongedto his predecessor. In ex­
amining them, I found amongst them a small
MS. volume of Notes and reminiscences of the
French Revolution, which, with the approba­
tion of the Bishop, I determined to prepare for
publication. My first idea was, to embody
them in a "Life and Times of Bishop Bruté,"


8
Preface.
to contain a contemporaneous History of the
Catholic Church in this country, and a Selec­
tion from his extensive and valuable correspond­
ence. In this vievy I collected a large number
of Letters and Documents, and made many
not-es. But such an undertaking, as the son of
Sirach says -of wisdom, ". cometh of opportunity
of leisure," and my constant occupations then,
and since, have never permitted me to carry out
my design. They would probably have caused
me to abandon it altogether had not some
friends, to whom I had shown the N otes on the
French Revolution, and who were struck with
the light which they threw upon what may be­
called the interior or domestic scenes of that
�readful Tragedy, urged me to prepare them, at
least, for publication. Having done so, I found
!hat it was necessary to preface them by a
brief Sketch of Bishop Bruté's Life. In pre­
paring this, from the memoranda in my posses­
sion, it will be perceived that I have not at­
tempted a Biography, properly so . called, hut
have merely drawn out a thread of narrative to
string the notes on, particularly such as illus-


Priface.
9
trate the period in question. They will be
found, when read III connection with the
Sketches and Journal, to bring into relief a
portion of the picture of the Revolution which
has been too much overlooked. Historians
have dwelt upon the crime� and horrors of that
period, and the dark colours with which they
have painted it have overlaid and hidden those
scenes of Christian charity, and patience, and
heroism which would have done so much to
relieve the picture. The crimes of the oppres­
sors were open and known to all men; the vir­
tues of the sufferers were for the most part
hidden, and known only to God. Even those
works which were written with the intention of
preserving the memory of the victims have
become scarce, and are little known. I had
much difficulty in obtaining a copy of the Abbé
Carron's "Confessors of the Faith." I have
read those which I was able to get,t but in none'
1 Barruel-Histoire du Clergé pendant la Révolution; 2 vol. rzmo,
Londres, 1792. Carron-l.es Confesseurs de la Foi dans l'Eglise Galli­
cane, à la fin du XVIII Siècle; Paris, 18::20,4- vol. rzmo. Walsh-Jour­
nées mémorable de la Révolution Française, par M. Le 'Vicomte Walsh ;
5 vol. 8vo, Paris, 1840. Tresvaux-e-Histoirc de la Persécution Révolu­
tionnaire en Bretague, par l'Abbé Tresvaux ; Parisça vol. 8vo, 1845.


10
P1'ej"ace.
of them have I found anything so fresh and
homelike as the papers here published. The
only regret those who read them will have, is
that they are so few and brief.
I t is indeed to be regretted that Bishop
Bruté did not wri�e an autobiography. His
life until he came to this country was passed
among the most exciting events that ever oc­
curred-he was personally acquainted with a
large number of the actors in them--his me­
mory was strong and accurate, and he might
have written a book of great historical value.
I I is notes and memoranda show that at ' one
time he contemplated something of the sort,
but on this account they are often less useful to
others, being merely hints and memoranda to
assist his memory. "There is 110 sort of Litera­
ture," he writes in a note on "Spence's Anec­
dotes," "which has afforded me more pleasure
than Biographies and Memoirs. I sometimes
think of amusing myself by writing an account
of my life. There is a quantity of anecdotes
and observations which occur to me, and which
if they were written down would amuse and


Preface.
II
interest my associates and 'friends, and might
remain' en dejót' in the Library."
In writing his Sketches, Bishop Eruté was
accustomed to illustrate the subject by drawings
made with his pen. A few of these have been,
engraved on wood, and inserted in the work. I
have selected such as are of an historical value,
representing scenes which have long since
passed ·away.
To complete the work I have also translated
such portions of his Journal as are of general
interest, and printed them in the Appendix.
Though very brief, they are interesting as afford­
ing glimpses behind the scenes, and indicating
the changes in public opinion, as the people
gradually returned to their senses.
In looking over the work, now that it is fin­
ished, my only regret is, that the preparatory
Btographical Sketch is not more worthy of the
holy man who is the subject of it. Those who
knew him, I am afraid, will be particularly dis­
appointed at my poor Sz'lhouette likeness of
him. But if so, they must distribute the blame
among themselves,forsome one of them should,


12
Preface.
long before this, hâve written a Biography of
one whom they remember, and so often speak
of, as the model of every ecclesiastical virtue,
and whose memory for piety and learning IS
so justly in benediction among them.
Palais de Justice, Rennes.


MEMOIRS.
fiji�!iiiiiilHE subject of this sketch was born in
Rennes, the capital of the ancient Prov ...
ince of Brittany, in France, on the night
of the zoth of March, 1779, and was bap­
tized 1 early the next morning in the Parish Church
of St. Germain. His father, Simon William Gabriel
Bruté de Remur, who belonged to an ancient and
very respectable family, was born at Paris in 1729,
and was at the time of his son's birth 2 Superinten-
1 Extrait du Registre concernant l'état civil de Citoyens de la ci-devant
Paroisse de St. Germain de Rennes pour l'année 1779: "Simon Guil­
laume Gabriel, fils de Simon Guillaume Gabriel Bruté de Remur, et de
Renée Jeanne Le Saulnier de Vauhelle, né et baptisé le même jour vingt
mars mil septcent soixante dix .. neuf. Parrain, François Pierre René Vatar
de J ouanner; Marraine, Victoire Françoise Bruté de Remur, etc. Le
ValIer, Curé.
"Soussigpé a Rennes le quatorze Thermidor, an sept de la Republique
Française, une et indivisible. Dubreil."
2 His father was twice married; first to Mary Jeanne Le Chat, at Paris,
the 28th February, 1756, by whom he had seven children; and, second, to
Madame Vatar at Rennes in 1778, by whom he had two children, the sub­
ject of this sketch and his brother Augustine, born in 1789. " The mother
of my mother, Claudienne Elienor Robert, died in 1701 aged eighty-one
13


14
llfemoi·rs o.f the Rt. Rt'VL'1'ClltÍ
dent of the royal domains in Brittany. Bis mother,
] canne Renée Le Saulnier ele Vauhelle, born at St.
Brieux in 1736, was at the time of her marriage with
Mr. Bruté the widow of Ml'. Francis Vatar," Printer
to the King and Parliament at Rennes. Their
place of residence was in the Palace of the Parlia­
ment/ in which his family, on the mother's side,
years. 1\Iy grand-uncle, her brother Peter Robert, Prior of Etables of the
order of the Prémontrés, died the 7th February, 1795, in the hospital of
Guingcarnp, prisoner for the Faith." JIIS. filote. Mr. Bruté's first mar­
riage took place in the parish church of St. Eustache, and was performed
by the Abbé Bruté, his uncle, Doctor in Theology and Curé of the parish
of St. Benoit.
3 " 1\Iy mother has often told me that the Vatars were of English origin,
and had pursued the occupation of printing since its invention in the four­
teenth century. The books printed by Mr. Vatar were chiefly those on the
jurisprudence of the Province, the customs, collection of ordinances, ' Les
Principes du Droit' de Du Parc Pouillainge. There were 130,000 francs
worth of these Books in store, when the Constituent Assembly abolished
all local laws and customs, and thus entirely destroyed the value of those
which my mother, who had the reversion of his title of Printer to the King
and the Parliament, had on hand." A/S. Kote.
I may mention as indicating the manner in whieh a particular profes­
sion or occupation often continues in a family, and is handed down from
father to son, in the old world, that the History of Rennes in my posses­
sion, that of De Villeneuve S: Mallet, Rennes, 1845, was printed by J. M.
Vatar.
" The fire of 1719, during the time whieh was made so calamitous by the
System of Law, destroyed 850 houses in Rennes, a fifth of the whole city,
and was considered of sufficient importance to find a place in the Abridg­
ment of the History of France by d'Anquetil. In rebuilding that portion
of the city a very beautiful Square was formed, of which the "Palais du
Parliament" formed one side. .
This conflagration, which broke out on the night of 22-23d December,
1719, was caused by a drunken Joiner; it burnt for five days and five
nights with great activity. Although most of the houses were at that time
built of wood, there seems to have been but one fire engine, and that was
old, and out of order. In li22, they obtained two new II machines" from
Holland. Hist, of Rennes, 1845.


Sim01Z Wz'lliam Gabriel Bruté. 15
had occupied apartments in one of the wings since
1660. The position occupied by his father, as Su­
perintendent of the Finances of the Province, with
the anticipation of succeeding to the first Brevet of
Farmer-General of the Revenues at Paris, which
had been promised to him, seemed to open the
most brilliant worldly prospects. " , You were born
to live in opulence,' my good mother' often said to
rne,!" he remarks in one of his riotes." "My earli­
est recollections," he adds, "are connected with the
entertainment given by my father, at his residence
in the city, and at his country house of Fricot, in
the Faubourg St. Helier, to the Deputies, the Mili­
tary Officers, and the N obles, at the time of the
meeting of the' Etats de la Province.' I remember
seeing no less than five of our Bishops at his table
at one time. We children were placed at a little
side table, where our pride, and our love for good
things, were alike mortified." "God ordered it
otherwise," he goes on to say, alluding to his mo-
6" Opulence pour le coup, mais quel danger pour le salut de ses enfans."
.MS. Note, written on the margin of the above memoranda, many years
after.
6 After his birth he was sent into the country to a nurse, according to the
general custom of those times. " 1 remained with my nurse IS months.
She lived at a small village about two leagues from Rennes, on the road to
Brest. There were three villages or hamlets, one was called Hell, anoth�r
Paradise, and the third Purgatory. My nurse lived in "Hell." She some­
times lent me to another poor woman who used to beg, and made use of
my presence on one of her arms to excite compassion. This thought has
often afforded me pleasure. 1 always remained much attached to my
nurse; her name was Riaedet, and she used to come and see me sorne­
times, when I was at the Seminary of Rennes in 1808 and 9." l11S ... Note.


16 Jlhmozrs Of the Rt. Revereni:
thor's words, "my father died (27th February,
I 786) a few days after a very painful operation
w hich had been rendered necessary by a fall from
his horse-and instead of a succession of opulence,
left his affairs ;n 'the greatest disorder. Your fa­
ther, my mother often said to me, could never be
made to distrust anyone; he believed every person
to be good and honest like himself-and the state of
his accounts at the time of his death showed it, for
not only were all his affairs in confusion, but it was
found that he had allowed persons to run in debt
to him upwards of a million of francs. The friends
of the family, the most eminent lawyers of the city,
advised my mother to renounce the succession; but
she, very justly, regarded an honourable name as
of more importance than wealth, and in order to
preserve this to us, she determined to take upon
herself the management of his affairs, even at the
sacrifice of her own property.' She accordingly ad­
dressed herself to the task, and with the assistance
of two accountants, Messrs. Jourdain and Renaut,
for whom she has often charged me to preserve
feelings of lively gratitude, she worked day and
.' I find a similar preference of a good name to wealth, in the admirable
Memoirs of the Marchioness De La Rochejaquelein:
" I had been destined in infancy to be the wife of the Marquis de Les­
cure. His father dying in the year 1784, left him 800,000 francs of debt.
Although advised by lawyers to renounce the succession of his father, he
had the delicacy, as well as the Countess de Lescure, his grandmother (his
mother was dead), to become answerable for the whole."-Afem01YS of
Alarchicmess De La Rochejac¡uelelil.


18 j}lemolt·s o.f the Rt. RezJtrend
the admirable books of piety which were written by
him. "My first confessor," he says in 'Some Re­
membrances, before my first Communion,' "was
Mr. Carron, Vicar of the Parish of St. Germain)
then a very young Priest, but already so remarkable
for his exemplary life, and most fervent piety, that
he was called' The Abbé Térèsc,' in allusion to S�.
Teresa. This was soon after the death of my fa­
ther, when I was about eight years old. I remember
well that the first time I went to confession to him,
he gave me, as I withdrew from his confessional,
which stood in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, a
little Book in French, entitled' The Death of Abel.'
As I was retiring, he came out of the Confessional,
and gave me the Book. I remember his face, as it
appeared at that moment, with such an expression
of amiability and piety upon it. I was his penitent
for several years, until 1791, the last year of the
free exercise of Religion in France, during which
number of works of piety. Bishop Poynder preached a funeral Sermon
at the service celebrated for him at London. The celebratedLamen­
nais, who in his better days lived with him, and revered him as a Saint,
had collected materials for a biography of the Abbé Carron, but never
wrote it. The Baron D'Eckstein, in an article in the Rambler for May,
1859, on the Abbé de Lamennais, whom he had known intimately, says:
.. In contrast with Lamennais, I may mention a Priest who had a heart of
g-old united with a true knowledge of men, the Abbé Carron, the only
Priest to whom Lamennais always did justice, and whose death was an ir­
retrievable misfortune for him. This man had the genius if goodness."
In a letter to lip. Flaget from the Mountain, dated June 9, 1821, Mr.
Bruté mentions the news of the death of M. Carron at Paris: "my first
spiritual Father-so often called the Saint Vincent de Paul of our days."


Simon W£llz'am Gabriel Bruté. 19
year I had the happiness of making my first Com­
munion. I went regularly to Confession, but up to
that time, thanks be to God, my excellent mother,
and I must add excellent teachers, I had little to
confess. Although I had attended the public
schools for four or five years, I was an entire
stranger to all im proper notions-and my chief
matter of reproach, at the time of making my gene­
ral Confession for first Communion, was the having
taken" an apple from the stand of an old Fruit­
woman. During the same interval, I learned my
Catechism at School, though at times I attended
the public Catechism at the Parish Church, to recite
portions of the Holy Scripture, which we learned
by heart. I remember, that on one occasion, hav­
ing repeated the History of the Sacrifice of Abra­
ham, I obtained, as a reward, quite a large print of
the' Annunciation' pasted on a board with a mar­
gin of gilt paper around it. It hung for long years
by the side of my "bed, and I can still call to mind
the strange, vivid associations of the Blessed Virgin
and good Father Carron, in my childish impressions
of piety and holiness of life. My first Prayer Book
also made a great impression on my mind. It was
10 I need not say that these notes were written without the least expecta­
tion of their ever being seen, except, at any rate, by the eyes of intimate
friends. I have taken it upon myself, however, to publish them, not only
because they afford a pleasing picture of Bishop Brutes early life, but also
as throwing light upon the state of education and religion in France im­
mediately previous to the Revolution.


20 Jllmzoirs o/ tite Ir. t. Reverend
a ' Paroissien/ bound in green morocco, with gilt
edges, and was given to me on the very day of my
father's funeral, February 28, 1786. I had long
desired to have one, and I presume there was not a
little vanity mixed up with the devotion with which
I followed the Mass and Office in my beautiful
Prayer Book, at the College and the Parish Church.
I had it in my possession twenty years afterwards,
with its broken covers, defaced binding, and some
torn leaves, but I lost it isomehow or other in my
many journeyings, I made my first Communion,
as I have said, in 1791. There were about 200 of
us, of the first or second Communion, for it was the
excellent custom of those times to make the sec­
ond Communion with the same preparation as the
first, after a short spiritual retreat. I thank thee,
O my God! for the state of innocence and piety I
was in the day I performed this most. important
act."
The place in which this Retreat for first Commu­
nion was cond ucted seems to have been a very
strange one. From an allusion to it, in one of his
memoranda, I would infer that it was what might
be called the Hall of the Charnel-House of the
Cemetery near the Church. He speaks of it as (, a
long narrow room filled with benches, with the
skulls and bones of many generations of those who
had preceded them., piled, according to the custom
of our cemeteries, in a sort of upper story over our


Simo» William Gabriel Bruté. 2 I
heads, so that we could s�e them through the lattice
work which surrounded them. This sight made us
very serious and devout, especially on the first day
of the Retreat. I do 110t, remember anything in
particular in regard to the instructions that were
addressed to us, except that they were, as usual, 011
sin, death, judgment, the divine Sacrament, the
happiness of serving God, &c.-and that they made
upon us the impressions they were intended to'
produce. I walked among the tombs during the
intervals with some of my companions, and I re­
member that we were very much in earnest, and
animated one another by our remarks, and by our
expressions of respect towards the good Priests
who conducted our Retreat, especially Mr. Carron
and Mr. Desbouillon-this last a saint of goodness,
anel penance, and zeal, and charity towards the
poor, and a heavenly preacher-but a small, ugly, ·
odd looking man, so that some of us burst out into
a laugh at a curious comparison which he made,"
and the strange gesticulation by which it was ac­
companied. Oh! how sorry we were, and when
the instruction was over, we went to him and asked
his pardon, which he so kindly and cheerfully gave
us. He is dead long since, and I have no doubt a
Saint in Heaven. Whilst other particulars have
Il Bishop Bruté was naturally of a cheerful disposition, and had a strong
sense of the ridiculous, as is attested by many little pen and ink sketches
amongst his papers; some of them would do honour to Hood or Cruik­
shank.


22 ,/lIemoirs of tlte'Rt. Revermd
vanished, the general impression it made is still
strong on my memory. I remember, however, the
many sittings by the Confessional of Mr. Carron, in
the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, in our huge
Gothic Church of St. Germain; the small Statue
of our Blessed Mother, in a white and blue mantle
on the altar-and the last evening when I received
absolution; the effort to make a good act of contri­
tion, and the earnest desire for a good Communion,
a good death, and heaven-and then going to say
the' Miserere' on my knees, on a huge tomb near
the High Altar, where we were to receive our Lord
the next morning. The events of the next day it
would indeed be hard to forget; the early rising­
the prayer for the soul of my dear departed father
-the benediction asked from my mother on my
knees - the spirit of recollection and devotion
which I cherished, in view of the important act I
was about to perform; somewhat disturbed by the
anxiety of our good Mr. Leblanc, in regard to my
dress and' frisure,' and the huge Candle I was to
carry. I remember singing the Canticle of "Féne­
lon, ' Mon bien aimé ne paroit pas encore '-th� de­
parture for Church-seeing our friends coming from
all sides-the entrance of the Church-all seated in
rows so ncar Olle another, yet such good order and
silence-so much ferveur in singing the Canticles­
such an indescribable suspense and delight of the


Simon Wïllia1'Jz Gabriel Bruté. 23
heart until the moment should come to receive:
but before doing so, reciting, in front of all, the act
of Consecration, with Térèse Champion for my
companion, as the representative of the girls.
Twenty years afterwards when I returned to
France, I found her, still so faithful in her per­
severance, so devoted to our blessed Lord. It
seems strange to me now, that all distinct remem­
brance of the act itself is lost. I am sure it was
all Faith, and pure desire of union with God, and
of the Thanksgiving afterwards, I only remember
the sincerity and ardour of the offerings
the return home, with poor Lamirel, the lad put
to the charge of my mother, who for many years
after that, until he had got his trade, fulfilled to­
wards him that happy duty, imposed that ¡day
upon all the young communicants belonging to the
more respectable families, of choosing from amongst
the poor a 'brother of Communion,' to be taken
care of and brought up as a member of the family.
My heart is full, when 1 think of that day-thanks!
thanks, O my God."
The above memoranda show how lively were
Bishop Bruté's recollections of the events and per­
sons of his youth. His papers afford abundant
evidence how closely his heart clung, at all periods
of his life, to the memory of his native City and
Province. Sometimes it is a little sketch of a build-


24 1I1úJtoirs of the- Rt. Reverend
ing or Church," within the City, or in the suburbs;
done with his pen, with a few words of affectionate
remembrance, or some circumstance which occurred
there, written under it." Sometimes a fuller de­
scription, recalling the ancient religious glories of
his much loved Brittany and his own recollections
of the place and the persons who dwelt on the spot
described in his time. I t is to be regretted that his
memoranda upon these subjects are of so frag­
mentary a nature-being generally merely hints, or
words to assist his memory, rather than detailed
descriptions which would now be so interesting.
Fr?m one o� these pages of jottings, as they may
be called, it appears that at the time of his father's
12 The drawing and notes on the opposite page will give an idea of these
sketches, of which. there are several among the Bishop's papers.
ra The following notes are written under sketches of the places referred
to-
"St. Cyr, a Priory before the Revolution, where I used to go some­
times for a walk with my good mother-a military depot from 1792 to
1814-then an asylum for penitents, under Mother Eugénie-said Mass
there when I was in France.
" Paimpont-the ruins of the Abbey-the woods and ponds-so calm
and solitary.
"La C'tape!le Bouexie-the abode of my sister-the Chateau-the
Chapel-the woods-the immense masses of Rocks�a mile beyond, the
ancient Chateau de la Harlai, and on the other side, to the right, the still
more ancient Chateau de la Roch�-the animals feeding in the narrow val­
ley between them-the little shepherds-and above all the chapels-the
masses-the good old Priests-and the peasants, 'ces bormes gens' who
used to welcome me to their Cottages, with so much cheerfulness and
kindness-all is present to me, and the recollection brings back to my
mind the days and feelings of my youth, and the places I shall never see.
a�aill-O my God, thou art my only good, and the only true life is that
w hieh is eternal."





r. The Cathedral-formerly the Abbey Church-St. Melanie, founded by St.
Melanie in the 6th century, possessed his reliques, and also those of St. Amand, like
him one of the early Bishops of Rennes. I remember seeing the Benedictines there
in their habit, and was present several times at the services in 1787-1788. The im­
pression made upon my mind by the majestic simplicity of their ceremonies and the
divine chant is still fresh in my mind, and the sound of their voices as they chanted
the psalm. h Cum invocarem, &c .• " in the office of Complin, still echoes in my ears
and in my heart-and then the benediction and the sound of the big bell of the
Abbey at that moment. In 1791 the Church and Abbey were usurped by the
Revolutionary clergy. in 1792 they became the prison of the Catholic clergy who
remained faithful to their vows and would not take the new oath. I visited them
twice whilst they were confined there, disguised as a baker's boy and carrying a big
bread basket on my head. In 1793-94 the Church was turned into a stable for the
cavalry, in 1795 into the City Hospital, that having been taken possession of for
an Arsenal, in 1802 restored to divine service as the Cathedral of the Diocese.
2. The Bishop's R esidence-a more modern building -the u pavilion" on this
side changed into a Picture Gallery, that on the other into a Botanical School in
1799, restored to the Bishop 1802. The Duke of Angoulême lodged there in 1814.
3 The Gardens of the Evêchê, and [4] their extension. forming a beautiful Bo­
tanical Garden, opening upon the country towards St. M ichael and the magnifi­
cent prospect of Belle-vue [6], two miles eastward, and towards St. Lawrence [¡J,
three miles.
5. The Garden of the Abbey.
8. The Promenade, called u Thabor," belonging to the Abbey, with its superb
terraces, made by the Benedictine Novices during their times of recreation. H'lW
often have I walked there alone or with my good Mother, the prospect most exten­
sive, including the Château de Caillé. belonging to the virtuous and charitable
house of Montluc-Cicé, I revisited all these beloved spots in 1815. I have made
this sketch and written this note during recreation, Evening of Palm Sunday with
little hope of ever seeing them again.-Etemity.


26 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
school. "Vith his lively imagination, tenacious
memory, and excellent disposition, he must have
been an apt scholar from the commencement, and
seems to have won the affections alike of his
Teachers and fellow students. He attended the
College lr, at Rennes from 1788 to 1791, under the
u The following memoranda are written on the back of a "Sketch of
Mr. Sorette going to Class: "
"As usual all the Establishments of Instruction, below, were gratuitous,
under the patronage of the Bishop, the parliament, and the mayor and
echevins.
" The College of Rennes.
"M. F A)EOLE, Principal; retired-
" M. Dunors, his successor, died; most worthy priests.
"M. BOURGES DE BLERY, Principal; died as a saint 180S or 6.
"M. SORETTE, priest; martyr.
"M. l\hLLAUX, priest; Superior of the Seminary since 18IO.
uM. ROSA YS, simple layman or tonsured.
" M. DUFOUR, ditto.
"M. DE CHATEAUGIRON, Priest j died at London, author of many
pamphlets. I have his picture.
"M. GERME, Rhetoric; Layman, since rector of the Academy.
"M. LE BRETON, Moral Philosophy; excellent priest, afterwards curate at
Chateaubourg, since his return from England.
"M. MAYNER, Natural Philosophy; excellent priest of great talents;
After him
"M. CABRYE, died I think in England, also a most worthy priest
"M. DAMON, Vice principal; Priest in England, curate of Erbrée since bis
return; a modest, holy, and very well informed priest.
"M. DUCHESNE, Academy.
"M. MERIEL, Fencing.
"This college formerly under the charge of the Jesuits; then from ISOO
to 2000 Students; much less after their expulsion; yet in my time between
5 or 600 Students; besides a school of Law, one of Medicine. The Semi­
nary for ecclesiastical Students, and another for the candidates, both under
the Eudists MM. Morin, Blanchard, Beucher ¡between 2 or JOO Students
together. The school for the young nobility, above lOO, under those ex­
cellent priests, too, �IM. Leforesticr, Perdriel, &c. ; another school for the
young ladies of the nobility-I'Enfant Jesus."


Simon WilHam Gabriel Bruté. 27
particular supervision of the Rev. Mr. Sorette, of
whom he has given so touching an account, in one
of the following sketches.
During this year (1791), in which as we have
seen he made his first Communion, the Legislative
Assembly passed the most severe laws against
all the Clergy who refused to take the oath to
the " Civil Constitution of the Clergy," 16 and as
almost all refused to do SO,17 the open and public
16 The Constituent Assembly having (Nov. 4, 1789), confiscated all the
Ecclesiastical property, and (March 19, Ï7c)o) suppressed all Religious·
orders and congregations, proceeded (Aug. 24, 1790) in its work of "de­
catholícising " France, by enacting the famous" Civil Constitution of the
Clergy," which virtually abrogated the Catholic Church, in that country, so
far as it was in the power of man to do it. By this famous Law, the State
assumed to itself the power of conferring ecclesiastical jurisdiction j the
Bishops and Parish Priests were to be chosen by the electors, in the same
-manner as the members of the Assembly; they were forbidden to apply. to
the Pope for Confirmation, but were permitted to write to him as visible
head of the Church in sign of unity. As'soon as it became a Law, the most
violent measures were taken to oblige the Bishops and Clergy to take the
oath to it. Out of 135 Archbishops and 'Bishops in France four only took
it, Loménie de Brienne, Card. Archb. of Sens; Talleyrand-Périgord,
Bishop of Autun '; de Savines, Bishop of Viviers; and J arente, Bishop of
Orleans; the great majority of the Clergy also refused to take it. Hence
the distinction of 'Prêtres sermentés et insermentés' so common at that
time. Pius the VI. condemned the Civil Constitution of the Clergy by
several briefs, and Monseigneur de Boisgelin, Archbishop of Aix, drew up
in opposition to it an " Exposition des principes sur la Constitution Civile
du Clergé," which was signed by all the Bishops except. the four above
mentioned. The Civil Constitution is now remembered only as a speci­
men of the folly of those days and as a lesson for the future, if men ever
learn anything from such lessons, which is very doubtful.
17 The following Letter, a copy of which, evidently taken at the time, I
found among the Bishop's papers, is interesting, as having been written by
an eye-witness:
" Letter of the Abbé De Pierre, ocular witness of what occurred at St.
Sulpice last Sunday, on the occasion of administering the civic oath.


Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
. exercise of Religion may be said to have ceased ill
France. The College at Rennes was broken up,
and from this time Mr. Bruté pursued his studies
under private teachers. In the list of" places where
"MONDAY, January 10,1791•
"You are right, my dear friend, in thinking that the great majority
of the Curés of Paris, and especially the Curé of Sto Sulpice, would not
take the oath. Since the publication of the decree, the emissaries of the
Jacobin Club have been constantly going from Curé to Curé endeavouring
to persuade them to take it. Mr. Bailly was particularly charged to look
after the Curé of St. Sulpice, whose adhesion the Jacobins were especi­
ally anxious about, on account of his personal merit, and his great influence
over his numerous assistants, and the Clergy of the city in general. But
all the philosophy and eloquence of the mayor have failed before the piety
and devotion of the Pastor, On Sunday, the day fixed for the presenta­
tion of the oath, more than ten thousand persons, two-thirds of them
parishioners, and the rest understrappers (gagistes) of the Palais Royale,
filled the Church of St. Sulpice. The Curé had been forewarned by
more than twenty Letters that they would proceed to the greatest extremi­
ties, if he would not take the oath, pure and simple, with all his Clergy.
They informed him also of the bloodthirsty declarations which had been
made against him and against us in the Clubs and Coffee Houses of Paris.
Nevertheless he preached a discourse on Christian Charity, before the High
Mass, as usual, and with that force and eloquence which you know so well.
As soon as he had finished a thousand voices were raised, demanding him
to take the oath, under pain of being dragged out of the pulpit, and hung
up to the lamp-post with all the priests belonging to the Church. All sorts
of imprecations, menaces, and a frightful tumult on one side, the most
calm, but firm and immovable countenance on the other. Already the co­
horts of the Palais Royale were pressing forward toward the Pulpit, and the
Curé and all the Clergy who surround him would infallibly have become
victims of their refusal to take the oath, if it had not been for the prudence
and courage of a body of the Grenadiers of the National Guard, who had
been placed at the foot of the pulpit, to protect our lives in case of neces­
sity. The sixty Vicaires, the Superiors of the four religious communities
of St. Sulpice, and all the good Priests residing in the Parish, surrounded
the Pulpit during the Prone. As for me, my dear friend, I was at the side
of our good Curé, and at the approach of the phalanx I seized him in my
arms, and would have carried him in this manner, in the midst of the
Clergy 'and good Soldiers, to the grand Sacristy; but just then, several


Simon William Gabrz"el Bruté. 29
I have studied" he put down "four years under
Mr. Muriel." During these days of persecution
(1791-96) he seems to have remained most of the
time at Rennes, in his Mother's residence," but
companies of the National Guard came in by the side doors and restored
order about eleven o'c. The High Mass was then commenced. After the
'Pater' the Municipality entered and received the oaths of Messrs. Bonnay
and Henoy, hired Chanters of the Church, who, as you well know, form no
part of our Community. To put a climax to this imposing ceremony, a
Capuchin and six others who had not taken the oath, in cassocks, asked and
obtained the privilege of taking it on this occasion. The Curé, the sixty
V/ca/res, the Superiors of the four Seminaries, and the Priests and Chap­
lains of Communities within the Parish, renewed their profession, and
swore before the altars to suffer hunger, persecution, and death itself,
rather than take the civic oath, and thus betray Christ and his Holy
Church. You will thus perceive, my dear friend, that the Community of
thé Priests and Clergy of St. Sulpice .have remained faithful, and the mu­
-nicipality have been obliged to content themselves with this silly and use­
less proceeding. The same ceremony will be repeated next Sunday, on
account of the eight days' grace, granted by the National Assembly, not
without a design, to the Clergy of Paris only; but the Curé and Clergy of
St. Sulpice will disappoint them. In fact, we have nothing to fear for that
day at any rate. Mr. Dansel, a Doctor of the Sorbonne, whom you know
by reputation, and who wrote the' Apology for the Civic Oath' which cre­
ated so much rejoicing among the demagogues, on account of the well­
known learning and virtue of the author, has retracted, and has written a
Letter upon the subject which is making many converts, even in the Clubs
-' Confortare et esto robustus.'
Thy friend in life and death.
"DE PIERRE DE BERNIS."
18 I find endorsed on the back of a Letter received by him in 17g6, from
the Abbé Després, the following note: "This Letter is from M. Després,
before the Revolution Curé at Reguiny, in the Diocese of Vannes,
then in prison at Vannes. He had been a long time in concealment at
Rennes, in the House of Mr. Trublet, andI studied my philosophy under
him." The" Sketches" will show how great an interest he took in those
holy confessors who at that time suffered and died with such heroic con­
stancy. Afterwards, when they were confined in prison instead of being
immediately condemned to the scaffold, he seized upon every oppoi tunity
of visiting them in disguise to carry them the Blessed Sacrament. He


30 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
portions of it were spent at La Chapelle Bouexic,
where his half-sister Madame J aussions resided.
The Notes, short and imperfect as they are, will
convey to the reader some idea of his manner
of life during that dreadful period. Amidst all
its alarms and sufferings, his memoranda show
that he was exact and regular in the employment
of his time. He rose early," and no doubt found in
mentions that as a boy he would go and enter into conversation with the
guards, so as to become known to them and get opportunities of visiting
the prisoners, with Letters for them concealed in his clothes and sometimes
the Blessed Sacrament on his bosom, followed by a Priest in disguise.
19 The following Notes, written on a loose sheet of paper, were among
Bp. Bruté's MSS.
EARLY RISING.
" To day (sôth Ap. 1819) I received a letter from my mother, dated the
2d of January, 1819. She was born in 1736, and is consequently in her
84th year. 'My health is very good,' she writes, 'no pains-sleep sound­
ly,' &c. She used to consider early rising, to which she was always accus­
tomed, a pledge of longevity. 'No longevity, my son,' she would say to
me, 'except for those who rise early'-but she regarded it from a higher
point of view than the mere enjoyment of health and prolongation of life
-at least, in these blessings she saw the instrument oC better ones.
Early rising, she would say, is absolutely necessary for anyone who would
faithfully discharge his duties in me; it secures health, gives clearness and
soundness to the head-calmness to the mind-freshness to the thoughts
and affections-is favorable to pious dispositions-and affords leisure for
recollection and meditation, so as to begin the day well, before the hurry
of the more advanced hours surrounds us with the labors and distractions
oC common life. And my good mother was right-there is no indulgence
more carefully to be guarded against than that of lying abed in the morn­
ing. -One hour retrenched by a firm resolution to confine our bedtime to
what is necessary, is half a month added to each year of our life; two
hours, which many could retrench (and some even more), is a whole
month. Six hours of sleep is enough alike for old age and youth (child­
hood requiring more); according to the apothegm oC the Salernian School,
seven we grant to the lazy, eight to nobody.


Sùru»: �Villia1n Gabriel Bruté. 31
those studies, of which he was always so fond, some
relief from the anxieties which in those days of
terror must have disturbed the most fearless and
best regulated minds. "He acquired in boyhood
and youth," says Dr. Mcf.affrey," " habits of study,
of close and patient mental application, which he
retained through life. In spite of that modesty'
which prevented him from ever speaking in his own
praise, I. could learn from a long and intimate
I Sex horas dormiré, sat est juvenique senique,
Nos septempigrio, nulliconcedimus octo.'
Early rising affords to the virtuous soul the most favorable opportunity of
exerting her empire over the body-for so great 'is its fondness for rest and
indulgence, so strong an effort does it require to break the pleasing chains
of sloth and to give up the easy bed and the quietude of its slumbers,
always the more agreeable towards morning when lightest (and to a cer­
tain extent conscious), that it requires each morning a true act of fortitude
and self-denial to rise at the appointed time. It is almost the only task
that habit does not make easier. My mother enforced this duty, which
brings so many precious advantages with it, with the anxious firmness of
true love.
I' When the poor boy of 12 hesitated to jump out of his bed at 4 or 4M'
o'c, in summer, or 5 or 5M in winter, stretching out his arms, rubbing his
eyes, and sighing pitifully at the sound of his mother's voice, 'Gabriel!
Gabriel! debout '-she would begin in a half gay and half serious manner
to sing a verse of one of the good Abbé Carron's canticles �
I N'attendez point cet age
Ou les hommes n'ont plus
Ni force, ni courage
Pour les grandes vertus l'
O my mother 1 how can I ever sufficiently thank you for al! your con­
siderate kindness-s-ever anxious to form your children to habits of virtue
and self-denial."
20 Discourse, on the Rt, Rev'd Simon Gabriel Bruté, D.D., &c., 'by the
Rev'd John McCaffrey, Prest. of Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg,
1839.


32 Memoirs of the Rt. Revere'nd
acquaintance with him, and from the testimony of
others, that, in the public schools of his native
City, he was distinguished, and eminently success­
ful. His after life proved it. His mind was too
rich in treasures of classic lore, too amplyfurnished
from the armories of science, for him to have been
a dull or _ careless student. Whether he conversed
with a friend or lectured a class, or heralded the
message of salvation from çl pulpit, the evidences
of profound knowledge as well as of remarkable
genius incessantly' flashed before you. Whatever
he once read, or studied, he remernbered. Even ill
the last years of his life, when' his attention seemed,
to be absorbed in Theology and other branches of
ecclesiastical learning, he recited with ease all the
Fables of La Fontaine, entire scenes of Racine,
Corneille, and the finest passages of the other
French writers, or of the Latin Poets. Though
less familiar with the Greek classics, he had read
them with advantage as well as pleasure, and
turned to good account his knowledge of their
language, in the study of the Greek Fathers of the
Church. At one time he had in view to enter the
French Polytechnic School, and for this reason he
pursued, a very extensive course of Mathematical
science. Subsequently he had the best opportuni­
ties.. in the' medical school of Paris, of penetrating
deeply into the mysteries of Chemistry and Natura!
Philosophy. He improved them with his usual


Simon Wz"INani Gabriel Bruté. 33
diligence. While he devoted himself to severer
studies, he. gave some share of attention to m lisie
and drawing; and in the latter of these accomplish­
ments he attained a proficiency which in after
years was a source of pleasure and advantage to
himself, and a means, which he often happily em­
ployed, for the purpose of interesting and instruct­
ing others, His studies were interrupted by the
Revolutionary troubles, and he spent about two
years in his mother's printing establishment, during
which he learned and practiced the business of a
compositor. It would appear that he was led
to this much less by inclination, than by the
reverses which his family had sustained, and
the dangers of the times." This admirable
sketch of Bishop Bruté's intellectual character
and application is fully confirmed by his N ote
Books and Man uscripts in my possession. I
find no allusion amongst them, however, to his
having pursued the business of a compositor,
although he mentions in different places the va­
rious manners in which he was employed, and I
am inclined to think that if he ever worked in a
printing office it was only for a very short period,
as a means of protection during the very worst
period of the persecution." He began very early
21 Since writing this, I found on the back of a sheet on which he had
written sorne remarks on the art of Printing, the following note: "In
1793-4, during the height of 'the Terror,' my mother made me work in the


Simo« WilHam Gabriel Eruté. 35
when the storm of violent persecution had some­
w hat abated. These memoranda are very brief
and imperfect, and throw little light upon his own
personal history, though they would afford no doubt
much that would be interesting to a native of
Rennes, or a local Historian of that part of Brit­
tany. Their chief interest to us consists in the
manner in which they mark the gradual change of
feeling amongst the people, and the reaction against
the Revolution on account of the atrocities which
had been committed in its name and under its in­
fluence. For this reason I have translated many
of them, and placed them as an Appendix to this.
volume.
On the roth of February, 1796, he began the
study of medicine with Mr. Duval, an eminent Sur­
geon at Rennes. His copious memoranda of sub­
jects studied, operations assisted at and performed,
. show with what earnestness he pursued them, and
how soon he became skilful himself. He makes no
allusion to the motives which caused him to choose
this profession--but we may not doubt from his
whole character, that it was not so m ueh any pe­
culiar attraction which he had for it, as because it
would afford him an opportunity of being useful to
his fellow creatures. Thoroughly imbued as his
heart and soul were with attachment to his Reli­
gion, there is no evidence that at this time it had
entered into his mind to devote himself to the Ec-


36 Memo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
c1esiastical State-or if he did, the contin ued per­
secution directed against anything connected with
Religion rendered any such aspirations apparently
hopeless. His earnest application to his medical
studies did not, however, in any manner impair his
attachment to his Faith, or his interest in every­
thing and every person connected with it. Amongst
his papers are N otes and Letters written to him by
Priests, in confinement at Rennes and elsewhere,
thanking him for his words and acts of sympathy
and kindness."
23 The following Letters were written to him at this time from the Prison
at Vannes by the Abbé Després, previously alluded to as Professor of Phi­
Iosophy :
" To the Citizen Bruté at Rennes.
, , VANNES, 2I Thermidor, year 4.
"Have you, dear Citizen, received my Letter? . I sent it to Barré in
crder that he might forward it to you either by some safe opportunity or by
the Post. In our present rigorous imprisonment, it is forbidden us to
speak or write to anyone. Our keepers tell us that it is contrary to the
Law, but we know nothing of any such Law, or the makers of it. I hoped
that we might hear, through you, some news of our brethren at Rennes.
To-day a rumor reached us that we were to be set at liberty; but we do
not know on what foundation it rests, and my object in writing to you at
this time is if possible to get some information in regard to the matter,
You may be certain that your promptitude in answering me will not equal
my impatience to hear from you. When there is a fixed limit to sufferings,
they can be endured with patience. The assurance that they will have an
end at a certain fixed time mitigates them, but the uncertainty in which
we live is most oppressive.
" We expect therefore that you, who are at the source of the news, will
let us know upon what foundation the uncertain reports which have
reached us are founded. Have the prisoners in Rennes been set at liberty?
One thing is certain, that they will be long before we are. The Depart­
ment of Morbihan is full of zeal in enforcing rigorous laws; they do not
wait even for the official announcement of them. But, when the question
is of any relaxation of severity, they are very slow in acting upon them.


S£m01t 1,V£lliam Gabriel Bruté. 37
After having pursued his studies for two years
under lVI. Duval, he went to Paris, in 1799, to con­
tinue them in the medical school there. There he
of course enjoyed every advantage in the ay of
instruction. He attended the Lectures of Pinel,
I was myself arrested before the law had been officially promulgated. and
others were arrested before I was. Please also let me know of Citiz.en
Trublet ; I heard that he Wa5 v ery ill, from some sailors who were brought
here by force, having been taken from their homes to serve in the ships of
war. You may suppose what sort of blessings they invoked upon the Re­
public and ils agents. Recommend me, my dear friend, to your good
mother. I find great consolation in your friendship, which I value highly.
DESPRES.
"\Vrite under cover to Barré. One of out' companions named Maner,
from Lower Brittany, was taken from this place yesterday, and carried, as
wc understand, to Rennes. Endeavor to get sorne information as to his
fate, and inform me when you write. A thousand kindnesses to Augus­
tine. and your companions. Do Dot forget, above all, the Mademoiselles
Chat .•.. (Chateaugiron).
Supra.
" To the Citizen Bruté with the Citlzerress his 'Mother, Place of Equality at
Rennes."
II To the Citizen Gabriel Bruté at Rennes
" VANNES, 30 Messidore, the year 4-.
" I can assure you, my dear friend, that I have received no greater plea­
sure, during the eight months of my imprisonment, than that afforded me
by your Letter. It was dated the rçth and I received it the 28th. What a
happiness to me, to know that neither you, nor your mother, nor your
companions, who were so dear to me, have forgotten me. But why
did you not say something of the Demoiselles Chateaugiron, and my con­
frères ,· ... ho are in prison at Rennes-why have you told me nothing about
them-are there many of them? Are they all confined in the Tower (the
Tour du Bat)? Are any permitted to visit them? Are there any hopes of
their being liberated soon? The similarity of our situation makes us
anxious to hear about them. There are 24 of us, confined in the small
Convent (au petit Couvent), and 3 who are still in the Prison, but who were
taken out of the dungeons 500n after lIS. Seven others have perished on
the Guillotine, and another has died of the Jail Fever. This is the name
they g-h'e to a sort of contajrious Fever, which formerly was very fatal in


lV/entoirs of the Rt. Reverend
Esquirol, Fourcroy, Bichât, and other eminent Pro­
fessors, and according to his custom made notes of
all that he heard which was likely to be use­
ful." Many of these distinguished men were
avowed advocates of the prevailing infidelity, and
the prisons of Vannes. We are lodged in the Garret of the I Petit Cou­
vent,' without being permitted to hold communication with anyone within
or without. Some persons have come fifteen or twenty leagues to visit us,
but they would not allow them to speak to anyone. Barré, however, made
out to get in, by some means or other, and, as you may suppose, 1 was both
surprised and delighted to see him. I do not believe that the Chouans
have demanded any thing for us; they have not demanded half enough {or
themselves, A large number of them were brought here from Cloermel
and Josselin, and confined in the Tower, and this morning they were car­
ried to Nantes.
" It seems that those who are in power here had determined on my
death, as I have been informed by one in their secrets; but God did not
deem me worthy of the sacrifice. :My sickness caused them to hesitate, or
rather to delay my death, and for a long time they were uncertain what to
do; and now, they have determined to wait for new explications oí the
law. So that in reality my sickness, of which I complained, and asked the
cure of God, was what saved my life. God knows always what is best for
us. My health is still very poor, but better than when I was at Rennes;
tho' I get very little exercise, being permitted to walk about two hours each
da)' in a. little narrow court, where the air is very bad. I live on bread
alone, having taken a disgust to meat of every sort. Adieu, my good
friend-I beg your mother to preserve me a place in her remembrances,
and especially in her prayers. I never forget her in mine. Remember me
also to the Mademoiselles Chateaugiron, and your young comrades, whom
I embrace with the most sincere affection.
H DESPRES, DE REGUINY.u
!). These notes, amounting to several closely written Volumes, are
amongst his papers in the possession of Archbishop Hughes.
It is related of him that in one of his journeys on foot to Baltimore, he
was obliged to put up at a lonely house. the only spare bed in which was
claimed by a Doctor who had preceded him. They entered into conversa­
tion upon the subject of medicine, and the Doctor was so much delighted
with the pupil of Pinel and Bichât that he insisted upon Father Brutes
taking the bed. .MS. N()It� by Wm. JIlIn, Esq.


Simon William Gabriel Bruté. 39
took advantage of every occasion to sneer at Re-
'ligion, and inculcate their false principles. ' His
early religious training, which had preserved his
Faith and Morals during all the horrors and priva­
tions of the Revolution, stood him in good stead
at this time, and rendered him proof against the
sophistries and ridicule to which he was now ex­
posed. Not satisfied, however, with practising and
openly professing his Religion, he entered into a
combination with several of his fellow students,
particularly those from his own Province, boldly to
oppose the false principles to which they were
obliged to listen." They chose such subjects' for
their Thesis before the / class as enabled them to
avow their belief in revelation, and to defend jts
truth. One of the beneficial effects which followed
from this course, was that the attention of the
25 Mr. Bruté was at this time a member of the Society formed by the
saintly Abbé Delpuits, ex-Jesuit, who preserved so many youths from the
evil principles of the day, and brougl� back large numbers to a sense of
religious duty, by gathering them into a religious congregation or Confra­
ternity, similar to those established by the Society of Jesus. In a Letter
to Bp. Flaget, dated April I4th, I812, from Baltimore, he says: "Mr. Del­
puits, our good Father of the Congregation, is dead; pray for him. It is to
him lowe my preservation at Paris, my entrance into the Seminary, and
consequently my coming here.". In the same Letter he mentions having
received Letters from France from Mr. Duclaux (Director at St. Sulpice),
Mr. De Lamennais at St. Malo, and others, and give details in regard to
the closing of the" Petit Séminaire" at Rennes, of the Trappists having
been driven away from the" Forêts des Camaldules," and of 60 workmen
having been sent at 3 o'c, in the morning to break to pieces the Crucifixes,
and destroy the Stations on Mt, Valerien (near Paris) which had been re­
cently restored. He adds: "It is Fouché who has been recalled to the
Ministry of Police, who thus signalizes his return to office."


40 Memqz"rs of the Rt. Reverend
Government was called to the subject. Buonaparte,
then First Consul, was labouring to restore Chris­
tianity in France', as the necessary means of re­
organizing Society'; and the infidel Professors
were made to, confine their teaching to its pro­
per limits.
He graduated at the Medical School in 1803 with
the highest honours," There were' at that time
28 An incident occurred whilst he was a Student of Medicine which
illustrates his fidelity to his friends, and his earnest fearlessness of
character. One of his fellow students. named Collin, had been called'
upon to attend a person who had been wounded by the explosion of the
Infernal Machine (24th Dec. 1800), which had been intended to kill
Buonaparte, and neglected to give information to the Police j for this he
was arrested and tried, and confined in Prison. Mr. Bruté had in vain
made every exertion to obtain his liberation, and finally, when a Student at
St. Sulpice and one of the Clerks appointed to serve Mass at the Tuileries"
took the bold expedient of presenting a petition in favour of his friend to
the Emperor in person. He seized the moment when Buonaparte was
leaving the Chapel and ran forward to put the petition in his hand.
Buonaparte, absorbed in thought, moved too quickly for him and did not
see him-it may be said, luckily-for he ran the risk of being shot dead
as an intended assassin. He afterwards succeeded in having his friend's
sentence commuted to exile to the Mauritius. The petition to " Buona­
parte, Premier Consul," in favour of his friend, written in a clear round
hand and signed by hirnself and Frain, a fellow student from Brittany, is
among the Bishop's papers.
From the following memoranda, which I found among his papers, it
would seem that a story had gone about that he himself had been implicated
in the affair of the Infernal Machine. The report no doubt had arisen
from his interference in the case of Collin.
"25th January, 1834. Remarks (pour souvenir a l'occasùm) by your
friend and Chaplain at St. Joseph's.
"1st. I never in any manner belonged to La Vendée-a student at
Rennes, for the Polytechnic School, and afterwards of Medicine, I never
quitted my native city, until I went to Paris, to the Medisal School, in
17g), at twenty years of age.
"2d. At the time this occurred, I was entirely wrapt up in my medical
studies and preparing for the prize.


Sùn01t W£lliam Gabriel Brulé. 41
eleven hundred Students attending the course; out
of these one hundred and twenty were chosen by
"concursus" as the best-and amongst this nu m­
ber� Mr. Bruté received the first prize, after another
examination." He was immediately appointed
physician �o the 1st Dispensary in Paris, but having
already determined to study for the Church, he re­
fused it, and soon afterwards entered the Seminary
of St.· Sulpice. He was not led to abandon a pro-
"3d. A Physician (Collin) from our country (Brittany) and a fellow
student with us at the Medical School, was called to attend onee of the Con­
spirators who had been wounded, and was cast into prison because he had
neglected to inform the Police. It might have occurred to anyone of us,
and we all interested ourselves warmly in endeavouring to ebtain his re­
lease, regarding him as a victim of a secret of honour and medical duty. As
he was from our Brittany, I naturally was very active in his behalf. All
the Professors encouraged us in the attempt. After having been kept in
prison six months, he was condemned to stay another six months. At
this time he was let out on condition that he would exile himself to the
Isle of France, and I was accepted as his security, The Prefect at Nantes,
through favour, making an excuse of the English blockade, permitted him
to remain there. He was still in that city when I, being in the Seminary
of St. Sulpice, was appointed the first Clerk in the Imperial Chapel, and
made an unsuccessful attempt to petition the Emperor in his favor.
"In 1808, being a Priest and Professor of Theology in the Seminary at
Rennes, I never for a single' moment had anything to do wrth any poli­
tical movements of any sort. I came to this country in 1810, and return­
ed to France twice, in 1815 and 1824, but without having seen one of the
Bourbons, or received any favours at their hands. I might add also, that
as regards M. de Clorivíere, with whom I have been confounded since his
death, I had never seen or knew him, until my arrival in this country in
i Sro, when he was at the Seminary, which he left as a Priest, for Charles­
ton. It was by Letters and by personal intercourse at the' Visitation,'
after his return, that we became friends. In 1824, when I visited France,
1 made the acquaintance of his respectable and religious family."
2"7 He sent the reward to Mr. Duval, his. Teacher at Rennes, as a mark
of gratitude. See Journal ..


42 Memoz'l"s of the Rt. Reverend
fession to which he had devoted so many years
of assiduous study, and which opened its most
brilliant prospects before him, as Dr. McCaffrey
remarks, " from any feelings of disgust. He ah,:ays
honored it, as one of the noblest to which a highly
gifted ánd philanthropic man can devote himself.
Delightful as his conversation was to all, and to
men of science in particular, it was peculiarly so to
the student, or to the practitioner and professor of
medicine." They often expressed their astonish­
ment, that after a lapse of twenty or thirty years,
engrossed by the pursuits of a very different order,
he retained so perfect and minute a knowle?ge of
all that $¡ he had studied in his you th, under the
great masters of the French capita1." He turned
from it only because he had higher and more im­
portant objects in view. His eleven hundred class­
mates in medicine told him that it was easy to find
Physicians for the body, but the Revolution had
made it more difficult to find Physicians for the
souls of men. For ten years, the Houses of Reli­
gious Education and Seminaries had been shut up.
The Guillotine and Prisons and privations of exile
had spared but a comparatively small number of
the former Clergy, and of these many were occu-
28 He was never known, however, to practise it, after he became a Priest,
except on one occasion many years after, at Mt, St. Mary's, when one of
the pupils having broken his arm, and the Physician not being at hand,
he set it for him, "most skilfully," as the Doctor said when he came.
MS. Note, Wm. Miles, Esq.


Sinton vVilliam -Gabriel Bruté. 43
pied in foreign missions. Dreadful as had been the
ravages of infidelity and impiety, and the almost
entire privation of all spirit ual succor, an immense
number of the French people still remained .faith­
ful to their religion, and a new supply of Levites,
to fill the places of those who had perished, was
called for on every side. One of the first matters
to which the new Bishops turned their attention
was the re-establishment of Diocesan Seminaries,
in order to provide for these pressing wants. These
were the circumstances, no doubt, which .influenccd
Mr. Eruté to seek admission into the Sanctuary.
Such a determination could surprise no one who
knew him, His whole life, even in the world, had
already been a preparation for it. At a different
time it would probably have been his first choice-­
and having chosen it now, he gave himself wholly
to the work. He always studied with his .pen in
hand, and his manuscripts again mark the exact­
ness and extent of his new studies. Theology
was a science for which his mind was admirably
fitted. He loved his Religion, and it evidently
became his delight thoroughly to explore the very
foundations of it. In Note-books made at this
time each subject is developed and illustrated, as
if his place had been that of a Teacher, instead of a
Scholar." Bp. Bruté was never a surface student,
29 One of his resolutions at a Retreat in 1806 is "ne laisser passer


Sz"m01Z WilHam GabrielBruté. 4S
how important a part of knowledge it was to know
where learning was to be found, but fully appreciat­
ed the value of editions to an accurate student.
Although he never wasted a moment over useless
books, yet in one sense nothing came amiss to him."!
He may be said to have been in a good sense of
the word a Heiuo iibrorurn,
�t is not necessary to say, that to one animated
by such dispositions, and so well prepared to make
a good use of every opportunity, the four years he
spent in the Seminary of St. Sulpice were what
the Scripture calls "full years." H e advanced
alike in solid piety and sound learning. Having
completed the usual course, he was, after having
passed through the intermediate steps," ordained
Priest, in the Parish Church of St. Sulpice by Mon­
seigneur André, the retired Bishop of Quimper, on
the Saturday before Trinity Sunday, I g08.
The Bishop of Nantes was very anxious to
31 " They say that it is an ill mason that refuseth any stone; and there is
no knowledge but in skilful hands serves either positively as it is, or else
to illustrate some other knowledge. "-IIerbert.
32 He received the Tonsure on the 22d of December, 1804, from Monsig.
De Belmont, Bishop of St. Flour, acting for the Card. Du Belloy, the
Archbishop of Paris; Minor Orders 21st December, 1805, from Monsig. De
la Roche, Bp. of Versailles; Sub-Diaconate 31st May, 1806, from Monsig.
Du Voisin, Bp. of Nantes ; Diaconate from Monsig, Enock, Bp. of Ren­
nes. M. Emery was at that time Sup. of the Seminary, Boyer, Duclaux,
Garnier, &c., Directors. Among his fellow-students were Monsigs. Fay­
ette, afterwards Bishop of Orleans; Du Bonald, the present Card. Archb,
of Lyons; Mazenod, the present Bp. of Marseilles; Forbin-Janson, the
late Bp, of N aney, &c.


46 l11enzoirs of the Rt. Reverend
obtain his services for his Diocese, but the Bishop
of Rennes, who knew his value not only as an
instructor, but as a model for the young Levites of
his Diocese, appointed him Professor of Theology
in the Diocesan Seminary. His own spirit of zeal
and devotedness seems even at this period to have
tun�ed his mind towards the foreign missions. It
is evident from the notes of his Retreat," that he
had already arrived at a great spirit of detachment
from home and family (and no one ever loved them
more dearly) and was prepared to make all the
necessary sacrifices, the moment that he felt it to
be the will of God that he should leave France.
Those who knew him in after times will not be sur­
prised to learn that in the list of sacrifices to be
made, if he goes on the foreign missions, that of
not being able to carry his Library" with him occu­
pies a prominent place. At this time (1807) he
:�3 M. L'Abbé Duclaux, of whom he often speaks with the greatest vene­
ration, "mon saint et tout bon père," was his director. In Sept. 1806, he
made a Retreat at the Carmes, to ascertain his vocation in this matter;
again in 1807 his views were towards India. According to his usual
custom, the pro's and con's are all written down. I find many notes
amongst his papers in regard to the different foreign missions-the way of
getting to them,· &c. He made a plan of going on foot to India, founded
upon some statements for sending troops to Syria. It seems to have
afforded him much pleasure to think that his medical studies would prove
useful to him on the Eastern missions. In his Retreat of 1807, he appears
to have determined to go, so far as rested with himself, under the particular
protection, as he adds, "of the Blessed Virgin, in her Immaculate Concep­
tion."-Idées dela Chine.
34 " Se priver d'approfondir mes études de lire les SS. Pères,-ma Biblio-
thèque."


48 Mel1zoirs of the Rt. Reverend
that the Sovereign Pontiff had given an express
order that he should accept the office to which he
had been called. In consequence, after having
remained in France a few months to obtain fellow­
labourers for his extensive but uncultivated Dio­
cese, he returned to the United States in 1810, and
was consecrated by Archbishop Carroll on the 4th
of November of that year. It was 110 doubt his
presence in France that renewed in Mr. Bruté's
mind the intention of devoting himself to the
foreign missions, and turned his mind towards the
U nited States. Having obtained his Bishop's con­
sent, he sailed from Bordeaux 36 in company with
the Bishop elect of Bardstown, in r Sro, and arrived
in Baltimore 011 the roth of August of that year.
For nearly two years after his arrival he was re­
tained as Professor of Philosophy in the Seminary
at Baltimore. In. 18 I 2, he was sen t for a few
36 I find on a slip of paper amongst his manuscripts a note of the name
of the vessel and a list of his fellow-passengers, She was a brig or barque,
named the George Dyer, Capt. Peter Collard. There were several French
and American gentlemen-amongst the Americans a Dr. Johnson, bearer
of despatches from Gen. Armstrong, at that time our minister at Paris,
"a Poet, an Úrsuline nun; five Trappists, the Père Mauvais and four
brothers; one Jewit, Father Cary; Mr. Flaget j a relative of his, Mr. Gras;
Romant, Derigand, Deidier, Chabrat) Bruté."
Father Bruté always retained the greatest love and veneration for the
venerable Bp. Flaget. He often wrote long Letters to him, informing
him of the news from France, and of their old companions and friends in
their always beloved country, De La Mennais, Fayette, good Father
Garnier, Boyer, &c. His Letters to Bp. Flaget also contain many interest­
ing particulars in regard to the history of the Church in this country.


50 Menzoirs of the Rt. Reverend
as he expresses it. In 1806 the Sulpicians had es ..
tablished a preparatory Seminary at Pigeon Hill,"
near Abbotstown, Pa., which was transferred in
. 1809 to Emmittsburg in Maryland, the Rev. Mr.
Dubois, who had charge of "the mission in that
vicinity having already commenced a school there,
which afterwards became so well known as Mt. St.
Mary's College. It was at first intended to be
merely a preparatory Seminary for Ecclesiastical
sity. The Rev. Mr. Bruté in one of his notes says: "15th June, 1818,
Mr. Radford came to see Mr. Dubois and told him if he was embarrassed
in money matters, the inh*itants of Emmittsburg would supply them.
Mr. McMeal, Grover and Boyle, offered $1,500. 2Sth. In the evening Mr.
McNeal came to say that they would let him have 7000 or Sooodollars with­
out into as long as he wanted it; that if it was intended to sell the
Property they would purchase it and give it back to Mr. Dubois. rst July.
A Letter came by Liven from the Archb. which leaves everything in statu
quo." The property was transferred at the time, I believe, to Rev. Mr.
Dubois.
39 Pigeon Hill was a Farm or Country seat which belonged to a pious lay­
man, Mr. Harent of Lyon. The Trappists occupied it for a short time. In
1806, he permitted the Sulpicians of Baltimore to commence a "Petit
Seminaire" there. It was opened by Mr. Nagot 15th August, 1806, with
eight boys. In ISog, Mr. Nagot's health becoming impaired and Mr.
Dubois having joined the Sulpicians, the students from Pigeon Hill were
transferred to Mount St. Mary's after Easter, zôth and 2Sth April. Mr.
Harent himself became a Priest and a Sulpician at the age of 55 ; he lived,
however, but a few years and died in 18IS, in the West Indies, where he
had g�ne on business connected with the College at Baltimore. There
were eight students transferred from Pigeon Hill to the Mountain-Colum­
kill O'Conway, John O'Connor, Taliafero O'Connor, James Shorb, James
Clements, John Fitzgerald, John Lilly, Jonathan Walker. The Rev. Mr.
Shenfelder of Conewaga was the only one who became a Priest from
Pigeon Hill so far as I can find; he was a good Priest-died in IS24. The
first commencement of Mt, St. Mary's was made by Mr. Dubois in 1807;
in 1824 it was detached from Sto Sulpice; the Church was built in IS08.
The first stone College was built in IS24; when scarcely finished and not
yet occupied, it was burnt; the new building was erected in IS24-5.


Simon W£lliam Gabriel Bruté. 5 I
students, but the great advantages it offered for
education induced many parents to seek admission
for their sons, though not intended for the ecclesias­
tical state. The Rev. Mr. Dubois was President of
the College, Pastor of Emmittsburg and Superior of
the new institution of the Sisters of Charity, which
had been lately founded at St. Joseph's under the
charge of Mother Seton. These varied duties made
it necessary that he should have another Priest
with him. The Rev. Mr. Duhamel had relieved
him. of the charge of the Congregation of Emrnitts­
burg since 18 IO, but the flourishing condition of
the College required additional help, and in conse­
quence the Rev. Mr. Bruté was sent to the Moun­
tain for that purpose. This favoured spot became
from this time, until· he "vas transferred to the
Bishopric of Vincennes, with the exception of the
interval 18 I 5-1 8, the theatre of his zeal and holy in­
fluence-where all the advantages of his most
amiable character, his extensive and profound learn­
ing, and eminent Christian and priestly virtues,
were exerted with the most beneficial effects. He
could never have hoped to have done as much
good amongst the inhabitants of India and China,
by the exertion of the highest apostolic zeal, as he
was permitted to do in this country. It is in no dis­
paragement of those holy and eminent men who
have adorned ilH�'JaHni!ils)'of, the� €â.t1mHc Chû1·c'h�tn /_' �J� J_, _,J
this countrr_�{)fa��tkJ{rb�J:J� iJ�th��Ji�lS, 1aJ B�Jb�is>JJJ �"JJ J�J


52 Jl;Iemoirs of the Rt. Reverend
and a Flaget, to say that no one has ever exerted a
more beneficial influence in favor of the Catholic
Religion than Bp. Bruté. If Mt. St. Mary's, in ad­
clition to all the other benefits it has bestowed upon
Catholicity in this country, has been in a 'remark­
able clegree the nursery of an intelligent, active,
zealous Priesthood, exactly such as were". needed to
supply the peculiar wants of the Chur�h .. �� this
country, everyone at all acquainted with the
history of that institution will allow that the true
ecclesiastical spirit was stamped upon it by' Bp.
Eruté. His humility, piety and learning made him
a model of the Christian Priest, and the impression
his virtues made upon both ecclesiastical and lay
students surpassed all oral instruction, The
Catholic Religion alone can" produce such men, and
hence their example confirms the Faith and elevates
the Character of all who come in contact with
them." The name of Bishop Brutê has been, and
ever will be, associated with that of Bishop Dubois,
as common benefactors to the infant Church in this
country.
The Sisters of Charity in this country also owe a
debt of gratitude to him. Mother Seton found in
him an enlightened director and friend; and his
advice and influence was most beneficial to her
40 I have often heard old students at the Mountain say, that when they
CL ce L L � .', Lsey� ßp; cBrutBs. œzss tcl¡ey zvere ove.ra�cj� DY the quiet, subdued, but
\L � e � CL, LL ��räpt tèrvctur \V,Krl w�li�h� hi ���tctLit � Q,t �he níomênt of consecration, in
L L L L L epartï'éülar,ne seem"eaLtobe'ca'tfieäen'(lrély¿tl'í.,;:rehi�nself.
, ,'� � � � , � , , ' '. � LL �
L, l
� \._ \.. \.. lo (._ '- (


Sim01Z William, Gabriet Brztté. 53
young community at St. Joseph's. They were both
chosen souls upon whom God had bestowed his
most precious graces, and strengthened one another
like St. Benedict and St. Scholastica by their con­
ferences on spiritual matters. If she revered him
as emphatically a man of God, he regarded her as
one who, to use his own language, "if placed in.
circumstances similar to those of St. Theresa, or St.
Frances de Chantal, would have been equally re­
markable in the scale of sanctity, for it seems to
me," he adds, "that there could not be a greater
elevation, purity, and love for God, for heaven, and
for supernatural and eternal things, than were to
be found in her."H
The Rev'- Mr. Eruté remained at the Mountain,
assisting Mr. Dubois in his various làbours in the Col­
lege, on the Mission, and at ,the Sisterhood, until
1815;'2 when he visited France fora short time with
41 Rev. Dr. White's Life of Mother Seton. At her death she left him
her Bible, upon the margin of which she had written many notes, which
he often quoted and referred to in his classes of Theology and Holy Scrip­
tures.
42 I find on a strip of paper in his handwriting the following memo­
randum:
"Landed in U. S. roth August, I8IO. Consecration of three Bishops,
Egan, Cheverus, Flaget. I taught Philosophy, preached in French. I
visited Mt, St. Mary's and the Valley, July, ISn. Went during the vaca­
tions to Pigeon Hill, attended Trappists at the Point ISn. Mr. Marechal
arrived; M. Miguel was sent on mission to Eastern Shore in Aug. ISI2;
Mr. Tuite, Mr. Monally: 'Vent to aid Mr. Dubois end of September,
ISI�� : Went to Frederick to meet Archb, Carroll in Oct.: At the Moun­
tain I taught Latin, French, Natural Philosophy, and gave a Retreat there
and at the Sisters' j had charge of the Congregation. Delany died Oct.


54 lIfemo'Írs o.f the Rt. Reverend
the permission of his Superior, to bring over his
Library, and to interest the Clergy and people in
favour of the missions. He returned in November
of the same year, and was appointed President of
Saint Mary's College at Baltimore, where he re­
mained until 1818, when, on the death of Mr. Du­
hamel, he again returned to Emmittsburg and
resumed his labours at the College and amongst
the Catholics in the vicinity. Mt. St. Mary's Col­
lege was now thoroughly organized. The Students
of the Theological School connected with it acted
as Prefects, and assisted as Teachers in the Institu­
tion. The system thus adopted by Bishop Dubois
is liable to some objections; it interferes, no doubt,
with that exact ecclesiastical training which IS
justly considered of so much importance. Still
1813: Heard of invasion of France coming from the .Sisters, 1814:
American War, went to Frederick after the defeat of Bladensburg: Went
to France with William Seton in April, 1815: Returned in Nov. Presi­
dent of Baltimore (St. Mary's Coll.) ; do. 1816, do. 1817. Professed Moral
Philosophy, Geometry and Natural Philosophy: Journey to Emmittsburg ,
1818. Went to Annapolis in Jan. 1818 ; succeeded in stopping the projected
street by the College. Returned to Emmittsburg Feb. 1818, to assist Mr.
Dubois after the death of Mr. Duhamel. Was at the Sisterhood until
1822. Took charge of Emmittsburg Congo until return to France with
Mr. Purcell, 1824. M. Wiseman, Emmittsburg. Returned Nov. 1824.
Separated from St. Sulpice. Teaching Philosophy and Theology since
1820."
In 1812, at the time of the attack upon Baltimore, Father Bruté had
charge of the Mountain Church, and many of his flock went to assist in the
defence of the city. He made an address to them on leaving, and became
himself so anxious that he walked to Baltimore to join them, and render
them such assistance as they might require whilst in the trenches.-.,MS.
Note by lViI/iam lili/es, Esq.


Simon Willia'JJZ Gabriel Bruté. 55
even independent of its economical character, it has
many ad vantages, especially for those who are to
exercise the holy ministry in a new country, where
churches have to be built, and every thing formed.
The discipline of teaching and governing boys
creates habits most useful under the peculiar diffi­
culties to which a Priest is exposed in a country
like this. Under such a system, however, it is of
the greatest importance that the Superior of the
Seminary should be much more than a mere Pro­
fessor of Theology. He should be one fitted to
keep before those under his charge the lwing
image of a faithful Priest, and capable of forming
them to such habits of ecclesiastical virtue as
would protect them against the distracting influ­
ences of their present duties, as well as the more
worldly .influences to which they will be exposed in
after life. Such a Superior in the, true sense of
the word was Father Bruté." He understood fully
all .the responsibility which rested upon him, and
never did anyone, in his situation, discharge it
more faithfully.
A copy of some of his memoranda at this time
43 The Rev. Dr. McCaffrey has related with the enthusiasm of an admir­
ing pupil and attached friend the many virtues exhibited by Bp. Bruté at.
the Mountain as a Professor of Theology and missionary Priest. I am
tempted to enrich these pages with extracts from this elegant discourse,
but it has been happily republished in the" Mountain Memorial," and I
would refer all who have not read it and the Discourse on Bp. Dubois
(two of the most beautifully written and interesting discourses of this
character in the English language) to that 'work.


56 )'Ylemoz'rs of the Rt. Reverend
will give a better idea of his life than any mere
generali ties. oH
The following is headed" One day of a Priest,"
Eternity."
"4,% o'C. "Benedicamus Domino "_,, Praise be
to God," on awakening; Vocal Prayer; Medita­
tion before the Tabernacle. Rev. Mr. Hickey's
Mass; Jesus Christ my Lord present.
" 6 o'C. Celebrated Mass; Jesus Christ prescnt :
Breakfast; bodily care. Returned to the Church
(on the Mountain), opened the Tabernacle, and
took, out the Blessed Sacrament. Went with Guy
Elder through the woods, our Blessed Lord on my
breast. Said our Beads with acts of devotion to
the Blessed Sacrament at the "end of each Decade.
" 8 0'C. At Mrs. McCormick's; her lively marks
of Faith and joy; heard her Confession; arranged
the table; called the people; the young" convert
and her little one; her husband preparing for his
first communion; administered the Blessed Sacra­
ment to Mrs. MeC.; spoke of Martha and Mary
and Lazarus and Zaccheus, old friends of our Lord
on earth; He still upon earth and we his present
44 He was fond of drawing out these details on paper, as a sort of help
to self-examination. Sometimes notes of what he had taught, of what he
had read during the day; how many times he had seen or touched the
Blessed Sacrament, &c.
45 This must have been the first time he was at the Mountain, 1812-15.
The word II Eternity" is written upon all his notes and loose papers.
The thought of it seems to have been always present to his mind, and to
have animated him to fidelity in all his duties.


Simon lVilNam. Gabriel Bruté. 57
living friends. On our way to Emmittsburg re­
cited the Miserere, our Father, Hail Mary; Hymn,
, Jesus, lover of my Soul.'
"9'% o'C. At the Church in Emmittsburg;
opened the Tabernacle and Ciborium. Went to
see Mr. --, 10 years without making his Easter
communion; good moral character, as they say;
heard his confession: strong Faith, gave lively
evidences of it; had a talk wi th him, &c.
" 10% o'C. Coming back, baptized the child of
Peters' wife; her abundant tears; her great dif­
ficulties; did not hear her confession at that
time.
" II o'C. Returned to Church in Emmittsburg;
restored B. S. to the Ciborium; stopped at J oscpli's
with Guy; paid a visit to the B. Sacrament; saw
Mrs. Brawner.
" 12 o'C. Found at the College an old German
woman waiting for me; no duty for ten years;
sick and lame; looked very poorly; came 'to know
if I would hear her; Sister Angela gave her a
dinner; to cerne again on Sunday.
" 1,%. Was called to see Glacken above Emmitts­
burg; went to the Church at Emmittsburg to get
the Blessed Sacrament; this is the fifth time to-day
that I have touched my Sovereign Lord, 'The
King of Glory,' as Mr. Duhamel has it embroidered
on the inside door of the Tabernacle; carried it to
the sick; administered the Sacrament of Extreme


58 lI£emo£rs o.f the- Rt. Revere�ld
.Unction; made a little address to those present­
several Protestants.
" 4 oC, Went to Mrs. Brawner's; heard her con­
fession; recited my office; Oh! the wonders of
that office of the Blessed Sacrament.; and am now
writing down these notes; but a thousand details,
thoughts, and acts not told; how wonderful the
day of a Priest. In the Evng. Instructions for
Confirmation."
On the same paper is wrítten: "What have I
done to-day for the house? Reviewed the zd
Latin Class; had a conversation before God with
one of the young men; Latin Lesson; Reviewed
the 3d French Class; Latin Lesson to Guy Elder;
had a conversation with another young man who
came to consult me; one with Mr. Hickey; one
with the two Gardiners ; wrote a Lctter : the Dia­
logue for Baltimore, six pages; Spiritual Reading,
the usual Prayers. If all done well, what a blessing
it would bring; but oh! my Lord, so poorly, by
halves-alas! "
On one sheet of paper he has written an account
of the manner in which he spent the 3rd Sunday in
Advent, at the Seminary in Paris, in 1804, when a
student there; the 3rd Sunday in Advent at Rennes
in 18°9, as Professor of Theology; and the 3rd
Sunday in Advent, 1819, at the Mountain; the
Sundays at Paris and Rennes are the usual exact


Simor: Will£a11z Gabriel Bruté. 59
routine of Seminary Life in France; the Sunday at
Emmittsburg is as follows:
" Slept at the Mountain.
" 5 o'C. Rose; I st Prayers.
" 5 Yz. On my way to the Sisters (at Sto J 0-
seph's), meditation' en route.'
" 6 oC. Heard confessions; wrote out my medi­
tation.
" 7 o'C. Mass. Read De Blois' Lives of the
Saints.
" 8 o'C. Breakfast at Mr. Grover's.
".SIt o'C, G . t tl Cl- t E
74 ave commuruona le 1. a m-
mittsburg to two persons; heard confessions; wrote
a meditation.
"1OYz o'C. Went to visit Mrs. Hughes and
Mrs. Bradley, who are sick; said my 'Little Hours'
on the way ..
" I I Yz o'C. Stopped at the Sisters'; read the
Life of Madame de Chantal; wrote an Exhortation
for the Funeral of Mrs. Lindsay.
" I o'C. Gave benediction; read the Epistle for
the Sunday, and gave a sh4ltt instruction.
" I Yz c'C. Returned to the Mountain. Visited
the Sisters at their House [Le., the Sisters who
lived at the Mountain and at that time had charge
of the domestic arrangements, Infirmary, &c.] ; a
few words.
"2 o'C. Went to Mr. Elder's; officiated at
Mrs. Lindsay's Funeral: Exhortation. Read the


60 lIfemoz'rs oj' the Rt. ReZ/erend
Hist. of the Councils [i.e., whilst walking, accord­
ing to his custom].
" 3 o'C, Vespers; gave benediction; heard con­
fessions after Vespers.
" 4 oC. In my Room; heard confessions there;
Office; looked over some Gazettes 1816-17 [French
newspapers]; read in the Encyclopedia account of
Pennsylvania.
" 7 o'C, Supper; Study.
" 8U o'C. Evening Prayers; reading, &c." 46
On another paper, headed "A day of the mis­
sions at Emmittsburg "_a holyday at the College,
I suppose-he writes down the details of a day's
work, spent in going from one family to another,
through the country, not visits of friendship or
pleasure, but to persons evidently who neglected
their duty. He has marked the distances 011 the
margin, and they sum �p 30 miles. He left the
Mountain at 4r4 o'C. in the morning, celebrated
Mass at 5 Yz o'C. at the Sisters at St. Joseph's, and
was' home at the College at 6Yz in the Evening.
48 Amongst his papers I find a '·�ttle slip upon which the following is
written in Mr. Bruté's handwriting, and which may serve as an appendix
to the above:
"Mr. Dubois, Sunday. His invariable meditation. Then confessions in
the Church on the Mountain; Mass at 8 o'C, ; again confessions in the
Church till I I o'C. j at I I High Mass by Mr. Bruté j Mr. Dubois there, at
the Sermon. Thus six hours spent in that cold Church. Dinner; we
talked. 3 o'C. Benediction, then confessions one hour and a half. At 6
o'C. Catechism of the higher Class (Mr. Hickey the younger one) three­
quarters of an hour. Supper at half-past seven. Class in Latin, Jamison,
George Elder, Alex. Elder, Grim, one hour; and so on for his Holydays, "


SimOl1� William Gabriel Brulé. 6 I
He sums the day's work by the following memo­
rand um: "I remember to have spoken to 62 per­
sons, more probably in regard to matters connected
with Religion and their duty; made a short ex ..
hortation at Mass, it being St. Ignatius's Day.
Three persons were warned about their Easter
duty; several spoken to for circulating evil re­
ports; others warned against attending a camp­
meeting to begin next week at Hoover's." On
another day he writes: "Saturday night, 14th,
I received from Baltimore a number of the Edin­
burgh Re7.fÙW, and Stuart against the Eternal Gene­
ration of Jesus Christ. Sunday, r yth. Already
read through Stuart's Book, and wrote a long
Letter of remarks upon it to .Rev, Mr. Elder.
Attended to the duties of the day at Emmittsburg.
In the evening, read, part on the road, part at
home, most of the Edinburgh; Monday. This day
I finished the Edinburg¡�, made a dozen long notes
on the article' on O'Meara's Journal, and two on
the Article upon Duprat's works, with some search
amongst my books in regard to points in these me­
moranda. Wrote a Letter to Mr. Chanehe ; packed
up the whole to be sent to Baltimore to-morrow
morning by Sister Xavier, who is going there.
Finished a map of the Ecclesiastical States for the
Geography Class. Read on the 6th chap. of St.
John, Witasse, Tournely, DrouinvBellarrnine, and
the Discussion Amicale; consulted also Wesley's


62 Me1Jto£rs oj' the Rt. Reverend
N otes, Cajetan, Beil, Bergier, myoId notes of Mr.
Frayssinou s, and noted down twenty-one arguments
upon the subject. Taught the Class in Theology;
studied some other questions; taught the Class in
Philosophy; went to a sick call, &c., &c., &c., and
then the usual happy round of a Priest, Prayer,
Meditation, Mass, Breviary, Beads, visit to the
Blessed Sacrament, &c." The following memoran­
dum was made on the zoth March, 1821 : "On the
evening of the 14th cf March Mr. Damphoux
arrived at the Mountain to recall Mr. Hickey to
Baltimore. The next morning, after I had cele­
brated Mass at the St. Joseph' 5, I started on foot
for Baltimore, without saying a word to anybody,
to speak to the Archbishop and Mr. Tessier, and
endeavour to retain him. Stopt at Taneytown at
Father Zochi's, and got something to eat. At Win­
chester found out that I had not a penny in my
pocket and was obliged to get my dinner on credit.
Arrived at Baltimore (52 miles) 10 minutes before
lO o'C. Mr. Hickey to remain at the College.
Laus Deo. Set out on my return the next day
(rôth) in the afternoon; stopt at Mr. Williamson's,
6� miles from the city, where the storm obliged
me to take refuge. On Saturday, 17th (St. Patrick's
Day), said Mass, and made a discourse to the
people on the text, 'filii sanctorum sumus.' At
7 o'C. started again, the wind and rain in. my face,
sometimes so severe as almost to take away my


Memoirs of the'Rt. Reverend
his family and others, but with many distinguished
persons in the U nited States. He assisted Mr.
Duponceau in his works on the Indian Languages.
He was a friend and correspondent of Charles, Car­
roll of Carrollton, of the distinguished Judge Gaston
of North Carolina, and many others.
When the present Archbishop of Baltimore (the
who have been but too powerful in France since the Restoration. But
truth has so much force in itself, that it must triumph, sooner or later, over
all the vain opinions of men." He adds, "I often think of you ; it is one
of my great consolations, though, perhaps, we will never, meet again until
we meet in eternity." In 1816, September rôth, John De La Mennais, the
brother, writes from Sto Brieux, II FeH remains always with our dear M.
Carron. He is at work on an Essay' Sur l'Indifference en matière de Re­
ligion,' which is calculated to make a great impression. We regret (mean­
ing Felicité and himself) that we cannot have your advice and assistance in
our undertakings, which nothing can supply." Felicité himself writes to
Bp. Bruté from Paris, February 22, 1818: "The rst vol. (of the Essay on
Indifference) has been published, and I have directed Tey�seyre to send
you three copies. The whole first edition has been sold. No Journal has
spoken. of it, except the' Ami de la Religion.' I am preparing a second
Edition, id which by the advice of some of my friends (though others op�
pose it) I will change many things. I will send you some copies as soon as
it is out, and if you persevere in your intention of translating it, you had
better follow this new Edition. The second volume will be more impor­
tant; in this I will develop a new system of defending Christianity
against Infidels and Heretics." In the same Letter he complains that their
old friend M. Carron had not been appointed to a Bishoprick, but 'I he is
not of noble blood, and he remained a Catholic whilst in England" (il
est resté Catholique en Angleterre). We have remained always together,"
he adds; " since we were together in London, we have not left one another.
He is a Saint; his zeal and charity are incredible. Pray for me ; no one
has more need of prayer than J have. Adieu, my dear friend. A Dieu
seul.
" F. DE LA MENNAIS."
In some notes of his visit to France in 1824, Mr. Bruté, speaking of
De La Mennais and of his Book, says � 'I Many writings against his 2d
volume--some for," "I found," he adds, "all St. Sulpice against it, es­
pecially Mr. St. Felix, Mr. Carriere, and Mr. Garnier, &c.,t


Simon W£lliam Gabriel Bruté. 65
Most Rev. F. P. Kenrick) was appointed coadjutor
to the aged Bishop of Philadelphia (Dr. Conwell)
and Administrator of the Diocese in 1830, and set
himself to w�rk to repair the injuries which had
been done to Christian piety and Church discipline
by that unworthy Priest, the Rev. William Hogan
and his followers-a task for which his virtues and
learning eminently qualified him-the Rev. Mr.
Bruté interested himself, with his usual zeal, in the
good works which were undertaken for this purpose,
especially the holding of regular Diocesan Synods
and the establishment of a Diocesan Seminary.
The great object of his solicitude always was the
formation of an intelligent, zealous Clergy, well
grounded in the knowledge of Theology and Holy
Scriptures, and able to cope with the peculiar dif­
ficulties which stand in the way of Catholics, and
the Catholic Religion, in this country. In further­
ance of these views, he warmly approved of Bishop
Kenrick's design to prepare a course of Theology,­
adapted to the wants of the Catholic Clergy in the
U nited States, where error aiike in doctrine and
morals presents itself under so many new and start­
ling forms, His numerous Letters to Bishop Ken­
rick upon these subjects not only give evidence of
his zeal and piety, and of his high appreciation of
the priestly character, but afford specimens of his
profound knowledge of Theology and admirable
critical skill. He was no mere bookworm, but had


66 Mmzoirs of the Rt. Reverend
great freshness and independence of thought. It
might have been supposed that the scenes he h�d
passed through and witnessed in early !ife would have
made him somewhat of an ultra-conservative-one
opposed to all change-but it was not so. Though
no one could have been more firm than he was in
resisting any attempt to alter or modify anything
essential to the true character and office of the
Church, yet no one understood better the advan­
tages of judicious accommodation to times and
circumstances.
When the Bishops in the United States began to
hold Provincial Councils, Father Bruté was appealed
to from every side, and his advice was constantly
asked in regard to those matters which it was their
object to arrange. He had from the time of his
arrival in this country been anxious that the
Bishops of the country should assemble in this
manner, feeling, as he did, how important it was
for the progress and stability of Religion, not only
that they should meet and confer together, but tha .. t
proper and uniform rules of discipline should be
established throughout the country, while it still
formed one Ecclesiastical Province. Many of the
beneficial effects which followed the Provincial
Councils of Baltimore may be attributed to him.
It was thus, that although apparently hidden in
his Mountain retreat, engaged in his quiet duties as
a Professor and Missionary, his influence extended


SÙ1tOJZ W£INam Gabriel Bruté. 67
on every side, and the whole country may be said,
in some sense, to have been the field of his labour,
N o opportunity of doing good escaped his vigilant
zeal. If he heard of a rich Catholic who did not
make good use of his riches-of -one who was lu'ke­
warm in the Faith-of a Priest who was a cause of
scandal, or had apostatized, he immediately made
use of every influence in his power to bring them to
a sense of their duty. By fervent and touching
Letters addressed to themselves, and by interesting
those who were acquainted with them, hê endea­
voured to infuse into 'their souls some portion of
the spirit of Faith and Devotion which burned in
his own.
His excellent mother died in 1823,B and in 1824
he visited his native country to arrange matters
connected with her property. His Memoranda
show that, as usual, every thought of his heart and
every moment of his time was occupied with the6n­
terest of Religion." His visits and conversations
40 She died 28th of May, 1823; he did not receive the news of her death
until the 6th of November following.
50 He took advantage of this visit to make a long Retreat at the Solitude
at Issy, under Mr. Mollevaux, I have in my possession the notes of this
and of all his Retreats, which he made with great regularity and exactness.
They contain abundant evidence of his progress in solid piety and the most .
intimate union with God. In dwelling during this retreat at Issy upon the
particular graces and benefits which God had bestowed upon him, he men­
tions the holy Priests who had been his spiritual directors at different
periods of his life. "Oh! what an account will I have to give," he writes,
." of such eminent graces:
"My youth at Rennesê-M. Carron.


68 ,gfemoz'rs of the Rt. Reoerend
were all directed either to the spiritual good of the
persons visited, or the benefit of the Missions,
which he had so much at heart. lie returned in
the autumn, and immediately re-entered upon his
duties at Mt. St. lVIary's.
In 1832, when the Cholera had cornmencsd its
ra\7ages with so much violence in Canada, and its
immediate extension to the United States was an­
ticipated, he wrote to the Most Reverend Arch­
bishop of Baltimore (Whitfield), offering his services
when it should reach that city. In August, the
Rev. Father Deluol visited Mt. St. Mary's, and the
pestilence having broken out in Baltimore, the Rev.
Mr. Bruté returned with him in order to attend
upon the siele Immediately after his arrival, he
had a violent attack of intermittent fever, and was
obliged to return to the Mountain; but as soon as
he had recovered, he set off again, without saying a
,
"During the times of the persecution, so many confessors, martyrs-M.
Touchet, M. Sorette.
" At Paris, when a student of medicine-M. Delpuits.
"My Seminary at Paris-M. Emery and M. Duclaux.
" The Seminary at Rennes-A saint, M. Gueretrie.
"The Seminary at Baltimore-Mr. Nagot and Mr. Tessier.
"Mt. Sto Mary's=-Mr, Dubois. My present Retreat, in the solitude at
Issy-M. Mollevaux,"
His memoranda made during his visit to Paris and his native place con­
tain many interesting details of his intercourse with Mgr. Cheverus, then
Bishop of Montauban, whom he met at Paris; the Count de Senft, former
ambassador of Saxony to the French Court; the Baron de Haller; the
Card. Prince de Croy, Grand Almoner; the brothers La Mennais, and the
celebrated Lannee, his former fellow-student in medicine; M. Daru, and
others.


Sùn01Z W£lliam, Gabriel Bruté. 69
word to anyone, for Baltimore, and labored in the
Cholera Hospitals there until his services were no
longer needed.
One of the subjects, as connected with the pro·
gress and solid establishment of Religion in this
country, which constantly occupied Father Bruté's
thoughts, and upon which he often dwelt in his
Letters to Bishop Flaget and others, was the neces­
sity of multiplying Episcopal Sees as fast as they
were needed and fit subjects could be found to fill
them. He was destined, in the order of God's
providence, to co-operate in the work, not only by
his advice and exhortations, but by his active exer­
tions. The Fathers of the zd Provincial Council of
Baltimore, in 1833, requested the Sovereign Pon tiff
(Greg, XV!.) to erect the town of Vincennes in In­
diana into a Bishoprick, having jurisdiction over the
State of Indiana and a part of Illinois, and the Rev.
Mr. Eruté was, on their recommendation, appointed
to be its first Bishop. When the news reached him,
his humility, and strong sense of accountability,
caused him at first to shrink from the burthen
which was about to be placed upon his shoulders."
51 At the time he received the Bulls (May, 1834), he was giving a Retreat
to the Sisters at St. Joseph's. He first opened the documents in the chapel
on his knees. The next day he went to Baltimore and made a Retreat in
the Seminary, to decide whether he should accept or refuse. Every pos­
sible consideration on either side is drawn out with the acuteness of a
practised lawyer, and the greatest simplicity and fidelity, in his usual de­
tailed metnoranda.


S£mOl1� Wz'lliam Gabriel Bruté. 71
As soon as he had accepted the Bulls, he made
the necessary arrangements for his consecration,
and prepared to set out for the new and arduous
field of labours to which the few remaining years
of his life were to be devoted, 62
I find among his man uscripts N otes of a Letter
apparently written to the Leopoldine Association
of Vienna, in return for some assistance it had given
him, and which relates many interesting circum­
stances connected with his taking possession of his
diocese, and his first labours there. Whether it has
ever been published, I do not know: "Mere
words," he writes, "will poorly express the grati­
tude of the Bishop of Vincennes for the offering of
love and zeal which your benevolent Association
has been pleased, in the name of God, to bestow
upon his newly created Diocese .. The merits of the
gift are secure for Heaven for the pious benefactor
-may I have my share in them, by making a faith­
ful use of what has been thus committed to my
stewardship! It is perhaps proper that, in return, I
should give you some information in regard to the
beginnings of the Diocese which has been the
object of your bounty.
62 It must have been a great trial to him to leave Mount Sto Mary's. It
is evident from his Letters that he tore himself away from 'it with great
reluctance. It had bound itself around his warm French heart with the
sympathies of a second home. Bishop Bruté had what the phrenologists
'call the bump of Localüy strongly developed; or rather, like all persons
of .:1:. ardent, affectionate nature, he formed strong local attachments.


72 Memoirs of the Rt. Reven1ld
"When I arrived in Baltimore from France 1(1
1 8 10, to devote myself to the missions in this
country, there was but one Bishop for the whole
U nited States, the late Most Rev. John Carroll.
Since then many other Sees have been ereéted­
the See of Detroit, erected in 1833, was the twelfth.
The See of Vincennes, erected in 1834, by the Holy
See, at the recommendation of the zd Provincial
Council of Baltimore, may be regarded as the r jth,
To this see, th us established, I was named as the
first Bishop. At the time of my appointment I
was and had been for many years Superior and
Professor of Theology in the Seminary, connected
with the College, of Mt. St. Mary's, near Ernrnitts­
burg, in Maryland. Although a large number of
Priests now on the mission in the United States
had been sent out from this Seminary, at the time
of my appointment they were not able to aid me,
either with Priests or money. The Sisters of
Charity at St. Joseph's, the Mother House, made
me a present of two hundred dollars to assist me in
establishing myself in Vincennes. On my way' to
Bardstown, where I was to make my Retreat pre­
vious to my consecration, I visited my respected
friend Dr. Purcell, the Bishop of Cincinnati, whose
diocese must always continue to be a most worthy
object of your generosity, as having a large popula­
tion of German Catholics. He kindly accompanied
me as far as Louisville and then returned, whilst I


Simon William Gabriel Bruté. 73
proceeded on my way to Bardstown, where I once
more had the happiness of meeting my Father and
Friend, the venerable Bishop Flaget, the Patriarch
of these Western Missions, upon which he has
laboured above 43 years-twenty-five of which as
Bishop of Bardstown, having jurisdiction over the
whole Western country. I was also permitted once
more to embrace myoId friend Bishop David, who,
having resigned the Coadjutorship of Bardstown,
has been succeeded by Bishop Chabrat.
"At the time of my arrival Bishop Flaget was
about leavin� for Cincinnati, to consecrate the large
German Church which had been lately erected. I
spent a few days in visiting the different institutions
of the Diocese, the College and Seminary at Bards­
town, the beautiful Institution of the Sisters of
Charity of Nazareth, founded by Bp. David, the
'House of the Sisters of Loretto, founded by the
Rev. Mr. Nerinckx, both having several Academies
and Schools under their care. I visited also the
flourishing College of the Jesuits (St. Mary's), and
regretted very much that my time would not allow
of my going to the Dominican Convent and Novi­
tiate of St. Rose. By the time I had finished my
Retreat (from 4th to r zth Oct.) under Bishop
David, Bishop Flaget had returned from Cincin­
nati, and I set out with him for Louisville, where
Bishop Purcell joined us. Crossing the Ohio, we
proceeded directly towards St. �OUi5, across the


74 Memoirs' of the Rt. Rev/rend
vast prairies. of Illinois, and passing through
the town of Vincennes," half incognito. It was
a source of great happiness and consolation to
me to pass so many days in the company of
these holy Bishops, and to meet that most excel-
! lent Prelate, Dr. Rosati of St. Louis. On the zôth
of October, assisted by Bishops Flaget and Purcell,
he consecrated his new and beautiful Cathedral,
which was an occasion of great joy to the whole
city, A large body of the militia, and even the
U nited States Troops, from the Barracks near St.
Louis, assisted at the Ceremony. Two days after,'
on the 28th of October, the day of the Holy Apos­
tles St. Si mon ( my patron) and St. Jude, I was
consecrated in the same Cathedral, by the Rt. Rev.
Bishop Flaget, assisted by Bishop Rosati and
Bishop Purcell. The Sermon for the occasion was
preached by the Rev. Mr. Hitzelberger. On the
Festival of All Saints, at the request of Bishop
Rosati, I officiated pontifically, for the first time.
During these days, which was a time of general fes­
tivity, there were sermons each morning and evening,
53 In a cheerful Letter to Bishop David from " Salem, half way between
Vincennes and St. Louis," he gives a detailed account of this journey,
which in itself was no slight undertaking in those days. Once they were
caught in a violent storm upon the prairies and suffered severely from wet
and cold. He draws as usual a lively picture of their mishaps and adven­
tures, of Bishop Flaget, "l'incomparable," as he calls him, drying his
Breviary before the inn fire, &c. They spent only an hour and a half at
Vincennes, as he says, without the guns firing or the bells ringing, or a
grand procession or anything.


Sz"mOlt 'fV£lliam Gabriel Bruté� ,.' 75
preached by the Bishops or some of the.J esuit Fa­
thers, who have a large and flourishing College at this
place, at present our farthest western point, a thou­
sand miles distant from New York, but with
another thousand miles of territory extending be­
yond it to the Pacific, the only frontier of these
vast United States.
"Having left St. Louis with Bishops Flaget and
Purcell, the Rev. Messrs. Abel and Hitzelberger
and Father Petit, we arrived at Vincennes the 5th
of November. Some miles beforereaching the city,
we were met by a number of the citizens, Catholics
and Protestants, on horseback, who had accom­
panied the Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Lalumière, a native
of the State, and the first Priest ordained (by Bp.
Flaget) for Vincennes. He was of course filled
with joy in seeing a Bishop granted to his Indiana,
and all the inhabitants seemed to share in it.
" The ceremony of the Installation took place the
same evening. Bishop Flaget, who 43 years before
had been the missionary Priest here, when it was a
simple trading and military Post, in the midst óf
the surrounding wilderness, proceeded to address
the people with his usual fervour. Venerated and
loved by all, himself in the 74th year of his age, he
introduced to them their new Bishop, no longer
. young, being in his 54th year, and urged them to
make a good use of the privileges which God in his
mercy had bestowed upon them. Other instruc-


Simon Wiliia»: Gabriel Bruté. 77
since, the town had a common burying-ground pre- -
pared, beyond its limits, and insisted for a while
that the Catholics should bury their dead in it like
the rest; but they resisted so resolutely they were
at last permitted to bury in their own Cemetery.
An old wooden building, a short distance from
the Palace, is occupied by the Servant, and
near it is a stable ready for the Bishop's Horse,
when he is able to get one. The people are mostly
of French descent, poor, illiterate, but of that open,
lively disposition which bespeaks their origin. They
retain their Faith, love their. Priest, but are neg­
ligent in attending to their religious duties. They
are very remiss also in teaching their children their
Prayers and the Catechism, and this causes them
to forget it themselves. Many also are in the habit
of using profane language. It is true, and should
be mentioned, that of late years they have been
much neglected, and much of their former piety
seems now to be rekindling in their hearts.
"The kind reception I met with. on my arrival
was followed up by generous gifts of provisions and
other necessary things. Of 'money they have little,
and consequently can give but little. A subscrip­
tion list which was handed around some months
after I came, with the intention of providing a
yearly income for my support, did not reach two
hundred dollars, and most of this was to be paid in
grain, if they had not the money at the time. It


78 Malloirs o.f the Rt. Reverend
may seem somewhat out of place for me to enter into
such details, but they are necessary to show that"
although a parish Priest, accustomed to the simplicity
of seminary life, may find a sufficient support, yet the
resources of the Diocese are entirely inadequate to
provide for its great and urgent wants, the educa­
tion of young men intended for the Priesthood, and
building up of those institutions of charity for or­
phans and others without which Religion can never
be firmly established. The Revenue from Pews" in
my Cathedral is so small as barely to supply what
is necessary for the Altar and current Expenses of
the Church itself. Of some Property which be­
longs to the Diocese, but which at present brings
no income, I will have occasion to speak hereafter.
" As the Directors of your Association very pro­
perly request minute details, in order to be able to
form an accurate opinion, I will proceed to give an
account of the first six or eight months of my ad­
ministration.
" A few days after the Bishops who so kindly ac­
companied me to Vincennes had left, I went with
the Rev. Mr. Lalumière to visit his two missions,
or 'Congregations as they are generally named in
54 In a letter to Bishop Kenrick, dated December 18, 1834, he incident­
ally mentions that the Pew Rent in his Cathedral amounted to the enor­
mous sum bf $100, �nd that the subscription for the support of the Pastor
was $240; but not all of this paid. Still there is not a sign of complaint ;
his only demand, after all,' is for Priests. "I am resigned," he says, "to
remain at Vincennes alone and attend the sick calls and do all the work
myself-but my great, my greatest want is Priests for other places."


Simon William Gabriel Bruté. 79
this country-first to St. Peter's and then to Sto
Mary's. The last was not quite completed, and r'
was requested to name it. It was a great happi­
ness to me to put the first Church, which I was
called. upon to bless in my ne",w Diocese, under the
patronage of the blessed Mother. of God; so I
named it Saint Mary's, and promised to return
again in two weeks and bless it, when it was
finished. On the day appointed, all the good peo­
ple assern bled with their worthy Pastor, Mr. Lalu­
mière, at the little Chapel. It was built of Logs,
as almost al.l the buildings still are in this pa�t of
the Country. It is only about from 15 to 20 years
since these settlements were made. There are
about· 150 Catholic families, most of them from
Kentucky, but some from Ireland. We formed a
Procession and went around the Chapel, and the
ceremonies were observed as closely as possible;
then I celebrated Mass and gave an Instruction to
those who were present. Some Baptisms and a
Marriage filled up the labours of the day, marked
as the first on which I blessed a Church in the
wilderness. The cond uct of t�1e people was full of
edification.
" Afterwards I visited some of .the places around
Vincennes, where I found small clusters of Catholic
families. At the Cat's River, 13 miles from the
town, I had more than 25 or 30 families to attend,
and every time I went there I saw how much more


80 lJ1"emoirs 0.1 the Rt. Reverend
gcod would be done by a resident pastor. I will
..
S0011 send one to them, though for the first few
years he will have to be supported chiefly from the
means at the Bishop's disposal. Once they are
firmly rooted, however, such missions will support
themselves. The people are mostly of French
origm. I visited another Congregation in Edgar
County, on the Illinois side of the Diocese, about
70 miles from Vincennes. I t is an American
Settlement from Kentucky, with some Irish fami­
lies among them. There are perhaps So or 60
families within a circuit of 15 miles, and I found
them as' at St. Mary's truly zealous for their reli­
gion, and talking of the Church which they would
soon build, and the Priest that would soon be sent
to them.
"At Vincennes I undertook to bring our long
neglected youths to their first Communion. At
Christmas I had twenty, some of whom I had pre­
pared myself as well as I could. Others I put off,
intending to prepare them during Lent. Sixty
more made their first Communion at Easter, many
of them 17, 18, and 20 years old. The following
Sunday I administered the Sacr�ment of Confirma­
tion for the first time in the Cathedral of St. Fran­
cis Xavier to about 90, mostly the same who had
just made their first Communion. I say nothing
of the difficulty of the task, as it would look as if
I were commending exertions, the poor results' of


Simon 1¥£llia11t Gabriel Bruté. 8 I
which I have rather to lament before God. I
simply mention what may give the Association a
proper idea of the task of the Bishop, and of the
situation of the newly erected Diocese.
" Having a population of about 1,500 souls under
my immediate pastoral care, every Sunday I had to
give two instructions, one in French, and one in
English, and then to administer the Sacraments.
In the eight months I had 65 Baptisms, 10 Mar­
riages, and 20 Burials, and a great many sick callg, to
attend, often six, seven, and ten miles from home.
Then there were a number of other visits to be
made, poor to be seen to, Protestants to instruct,
&c. I received four men into the Church, two of
them upon their death-bed
" M uch of my time was also taken up by the ex­
tensive correspondence which devolved upon me as
soon as I was sent to Vincennes, and also by the
numerous communications I continued writing, as
I had long been in the habit of doing, for the re­
ligious papers, particularly the Catholic Telegraph
of Cincinnati. That kind of �ork is continually
called for by our position in this country, and the
influence exerted by it too important to allow it
to be neglected. Over the signature of 'Vincen­
nes' a series of letters were published, in which the.
ancient labours ef the Society of Jesus in this re­
gion, from the Lakes to the Mississippi, were de ...
scribed. Our very town took its name from a


82 Manoirs o.f the Rt. Iccuereui:
French officer, M. De Vincennes, who was .massa­
cred an age ago by the Indians, together with a
] esuit Father who had accompanied him in an ex­
pedition to protect the friendly tribes \V ho lived
upon the Wabash, where the Society had estab­
lished' the mission of St. Francis Xavier. Others
of these Communications consisted of a sketch of
the country and its aborigines, an account of the
former difficulties which religion had had to con­
tend with, her obscure and precarious beginning,
her present hopes, the inducements offered now to
Catholic settlers, and also the steps taken by the
last Council to obtain the erection of the new Dio­
cese, comprising Indiana' and a part of Illinois.
They were followed by an account of our present
transactions, and a pastoral Letter which I had
given after my Consecration, and which had been
published in the newspapers of Vincennes and in
all our Catholic journals. In that Letter th� Pro­
testants themselves were affectionately addressed,
and the intentions of the American Bishops and
our Holy' Father at Rome were explaîned in such a
plain and simple way that left no room for the
absurd charge of their being influenced by political
and n öt simply by religious considerations, and 'that
110 foreign conspiracy or danger for- the civil institu­
tions of America was involved in thi� new carrying
out of the original Divine Commission given tc the
Church by her Lord: .' Go and teach all nations.'


Simon, W£lliam Gabriel Bruté. 83
" Being convinced of the fact that we could not
obtain missionaries from the other Dioceses, I de­
termined to try to obtain some from abroad. Be-­
fore setting out, however, for this purpose, I wished
to examine myself the west and north of the Dio-
o cese, while Mr. Lalumière would go through the
south and east and make a report of his observa­
tions to me, so that I could start without much de.
lay on the journey in which I am now engaged.
After Easter, in company with an honest and pious
man of Vincennes, I went through Illinois, visiting
again Edgar County for the Paschal duty, and then
proceeding north as far as Chicago on Lake Michi­
gan. Mr. St. Cyr had arrived there from St. Louis
and enabled the Catholics to make their Easter
Communions, so T gave °onlya few Confirmations,
and three instructions, one 011 Saturday and two on
Sunday, to encourage the rising Catholic Con grega- .
tion of that most important point. It is now com­
posed of about 400 souls of all countries, French,
Canadians, Americans, Irish, and a good number of
Germans. The Garrison of the Fort, the Cornman- o
dant, and part of the Staff and band of musicians
attended. In general, it may be said that the mili-
. tary are always friendly to the Catholics and their"
services, which they are free to attend if they
choose.',",
" From Chicag? we went round the end of Lake
Michigan to the River St. J oseph and the mission of


84 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
the Rev. Mr. De Seille at the Indian Village of
Pokegan, situated just outside our Diocese, and in
that of Detroit. This mission was established
many years ago by the venerable Mr. Badin. Mr.
De Seille has lived for three or four years at Poke­
gan's Village. He has there and .in the neighbour­
hood more than 650 Catholic Indians baptized. A
large number of their huts are built around the
Chapel, which is constructed of bark with a Cross
erected behind and rising above it, and filled with
rudely made benches. The Indians begin and end
their work without hammer, sáw, or nails; the axe
being their only implement, and bits -of skin or bark
serving to fasten the pieces together. The room of
the missionary is over the Chapel, the floor of the
one forming the ceiling of the other. A ladder in
the corner leads to it, .and his furniture consists, as·
did the prophet's, of a table and chair, and a bed,
or rather a hammock swung on ropes. Around the
room are his books, .and the trunks which contain
the articles used in the Chapel, as well as his own
apparel. He spends his life with his good people,
sharing their corn and meat, with water for his
drink, and tea made from the herbs of his little
garden. He abjures all spirits, as all the Catholic
Indians are forbidden to touch that which is the
bane of their race, and he would encourage them
by his example. I attended at the evening Cate­
chism, Prayers, and Canticles, and in the morning


Simôn WilHam Gabriel Bruté. 8S
.. said Mass, at which a large number assisted.
Through the Interpreter I addressed a few words
to them.
" On Thursday evening we arrived at South Bend,
a little town beautifully situated on the high banks
of the St. Joseph River. I t is growing rapidly,
owing to its many advantages. Crossing the river
we visited 'St. Mary of the Lake,' the mission
house of the excellent Mr. Badin, who has lately
removed to Cincinnati. He had a school there kept
by two Sisters, who have also gone away, leaving
the place vacant. The 625 acres of land attached
to it, and the small lake named St. Mary's, make it
a most desirable spot, and one soon I hope to be
occupied by some prosperous institution. Rev. Mr.
Badin has transferred it to the Bishop. on the con­
dition of h,is assuming the debts, a trifling consid­
eration compared with the importance of the place.
" On Friday morning we left for the Tippecanoe
River and the village of Chickakos, The Indians
had heard of our coming, and had sent some of
their number in advance to ascertain our move­
ments. They gave notice of our approach to
others who had camped out a few miles to wait for
the Bishop, and make a more worthy escort for
him. The Chief Chickakos was there and directed
their movements'. Coffee had been prepared at a
small village only three miles from the principal
one. We dismounted, and sitting on mats of
/
___ J


86 'Memoirs of the Rt. Revèrend
woven straw partook of their kind, cheer. Then
we crossed the river, and S0011 arrived. On our
way Mr. De Seille pointed to. a poor mother sitting
on the bank with an infant child 'lying in her lap
who had been recently baptized, and was now near
death. He told me that it would be a great conso­
lation to her if I would give her my blessing, and
tell her of the happiness awaiting her little angel.
I did so, and could see by her silent and resigned
expression that she felt comforted.
,,'Chickakos' Village is not so large as Pokegan,
yet the Chapel is nearly as large. ' It is however
without ceiling, and without a room for the mis­
sionary overhead. The mission being of later
standing, Mr.' De Seille had baptized only about
120 persons, of whom I confirmed 16. He was to
remain there two weeks, to prepare many more for
baptism and some for their first Communion. He
said he found some difficulty in preparing the
Indians -for their first Communion on account of his
not being sufficiently master of their language to
make, use of the proper terms in treating of the
Holy Eucharist. He begins to understand it now,
yet when he speaks to them he prefers to do so
through his interpreter, a Canadian woman born of
an Indian mother, a truly excellent and deserving
person. She is 70 years of age, and yet preserves a
strength and activity truly wonderful. .She fol­
lowed us on horseback, and was very ready to assist


Simon TVzïl£am Gaôrie] Bruté. 87
us. On our arrival all assembled at .the Chapel,
and Mr. De Seille introduced me to them as their
Bishop, the head in these parts of all the other
'Robes Noires' (Black Robes), the name which
they have given to the Catholic Priests, or Jesuits,
for it is all one to them. He added thatI had no
one above me, 011 earth, but the Great 'Robe
Noire' beyond the high seas, the chief of all the
Christians in the world, meaning the Pope. He
said that every' Robe Noire' that would come to
them must come as' sent by the Bishop, and then
be received; otherwise they should have nothing to
do with them. The Chief Chíckakos said a few
words in reply to show that they were well pleased,
and promising that they would meet together the
next morning to give a more special expression to
their feelings. Accordingly, on the Sunday mortl­
ing, having informed us that they were ready, Mr.
De Seille and myself sat upon two little stools in
- tile Chapel, and some twelve of the leading men
came in and took their seats u pon some of the
opposite benches. Chickakos made the speech, and
I was very much struck with the concluding sen­
tence of it, when, raising his eyes and his arm to­
wards Heaven, and then pointing to the ground­
having previously expressed their confidence in
Father De Seille and in me, and their readiness
to receive me as their' Bishop, and their desire
to show it by presenting me with half a sec ...


88 Me11zo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
tian, 320 acres, of their land-he said that 'God,
when He would return from Heaven to visit our
Earth, would see that ground, to which he pointed,
which they were giving me, and that it would prove
to Him their sincere devotion to His holy religion
and the messengers he had sent to secure its bless­
ings to them.' To this I replied thro�gh the good
interpreter. We then made our preparations for
Mass and the administration of the Sacrament of
Confirmation. Before Mass six children were bap­
tized by me. My instruction was on prayer, and
the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Mr. De Seille told
me that he had observed in them all such a deep
sense of the eminent privilege of prayer, and the
dispositions it required, as are not found, as often
as they should be, among the best instructed Chris­
tians of more favored countries. I saw most une­
quivocal evidence of it in their behaviour in the
Chapel, and the affecting, earnest way in which
they listened to the instructions, repeated their
prayers, and sang their hymns, and I was very
much edified. Of the [6 that I confirmed, one was
an old Chief, who since his baptism had led such an
innocent life that he had not been' observed to
commit any fault, or give way to impatience, or any
other imperfection.
" We slept on the beriches of the Chapel, and
some of the straw from the floor, wrapped up in
our great-coats, after the manner of the good Fa-


Simoll, William Gabriel Bruté. 89
there Our food was boiled corn, fish, venison, and
wild turkey, minced together in one dish, and some
cranberries broken and mixed with sugar they get
from trees. Our drink was water. Coffee was not
to be had, although this was the principal village.
" In the afternoon Vespers was sung in Ottawa,
and, as I should have mentioned 'before, by the aid
of printed books. Many used them, as they are
very quick in learning to read, and have retentive
memories. Some knew the whole contents of their
prayer-books. They contain all the usual daily
prayers, and exercises for Confession and Com­
munion, a pretty long Catechism, and a large num­
ber of Canticles, with many of the principal Hymns
and Anthems of the Church. Among others, they
have the' Pange Lingua' and the Psalms for Ves­
pers translated in Ottawa.
" I was to leave them after Vespers, so, before we
began, 'they came to sign the deed of the land pre­
sented to the Church, which we had drawn up in
as legal a form as we could, putting the indispen­
sable condition that the act was subject to the
approval of their temporal Father at Washington,
as they call the President of the United States.
Although many know how to read, none know how
to write, so Chickakos and some of his friends made
their marks on the paper, and two Canadian traders
who were present signed their names as witnesses.
It remains now to be ratified by the President.


90 .1.Yemoirs of the Rt. Reverend
" After a few parting words, and giving them my
blessing, we mounted our horses, and were escorted
for some miles by a large number, Chickakos at
their head, who before leaving us dismounted from
their horses, and asked their Bishop's blessing again.
Mr. De Seille was to remain two weeks there giving
instructions, and preparing the Indians tor Baptism
and First Communion. Some time after, I re­
ceived in Vincennes two long Letters from that
excellent Missionary, giving me a ·most interesting
account of the exercises of the two weeks which
he had spent there, at the end of which he had
baptized 80, and admitted 30 to their First Com­
munion. He said that the coming of a Bishop,
'a chief man of the true prayer, as they
'called him, and head of the" Robes Noires,'
had excited much joy among all the Indians.
They remembered when the Jesuits left the coun­
try, after the conquest of. Canada by the English,
how their Fathers had hoped until their death for
their return, and, dying without that consolation,
most earnestly recommended to their Children to
be looking for them when they should come, and to
receive them and believe them to be the true mes­
sengers of God. W� spent the night at the house
of a settler 15 miles from, Chickakos, and found the
house so full that many had to lie on the floor, as I
had done once on my way to the Lake. Here we
had a bed for two, as was often the case. Through


Simon Will/am, Gabriel Bruté. 9 I
all that journey of 600 miles, we seldom came to
any regular taverns, but almost every family would
allow you to share their meals, and give you a
place under their roof, receiving on your departure
a small compensation, which however is sufficient
to rem unerate them. Our old friend, for one eve­
ning's acquaintance establishes that relation be­
tween us, told me in the morning, 'when I asked for
the bill, that he used to take nothing; but as he
could not well stand that, and wished still to help
any stranger, he only' took what strictly sufficed.
He was of the sect called' Christians.' After sup­
per he had said to us, ' Friends, I ought not to in­
terrupt our family rule on your account; we are
about to have our Evening Devotions. You can
remain with us, or if you prefer to retire I will show
you your room.' We thanked llÏm, and said that
we would rather retire. This did not displease him
at all, or prevent him from bestowing every atten­
tion upon us. We were almost al ways thrown u pan
the hospitality of Protestants, and were treated
kindly by all. I improved in every fa�ily such op­
portunities of conversation as were afforded me, and
passed such simple remarks as would make them ac­
quainted with 'our Faith and practices, and remove
some of the prejudices which they had acquired
from their parents or the ministers of the places
from which they had come to settle in the 'West.
They listened to what I had to say, and as very few


92 Memoù"s of the Rt. l!evermd
ministers have as yet come to these remote parts, I
found that it would be easy to preoccupy the ground.
But, alas! we have not the means to do so, nor
Priests enough to send to the dispersed sheep of the
house of Israel, to the domestics of the Faith, ex­
posed to lose it almost as easily as these Protestants
are to acquire it.
" The day after we reached Logansport, a rapidly
improving town on the Canal that is nearly com­
pleted, and will unite the Wabash with the Maumee
at Fort Wayne, and thus Lake Erie with the Ohio,
and the' Mississippi through the States of Indiana
and Illinois. I found there a good number of
Catholics, and promised to send them one of the
first Priests I could obtain. I said Mass the next
morning, and then left for home, yet some days'
journey, passing through Fayetteville, Attica, Cov­
ingtcn, Terre Haute, &c. Few Catholics are as yet
collected in these growing towns, but soon there
will be more. Had I said Mass at Terre Haute
about 20 Catholics might have been present, and
many Protestants joining them, and in our new
country that is a sufficient indication to send a mís­
sionary. By this very visit to Europe I trust to ob­
tain some, whom I will be able to support with the
generous gift of the Association, and thus place
Terre Haute and many other such towns on the
line of missionary round. I have myself heard in
the city of Baltimore the interesting account of


S£m01Z William Gabriel Bruté. 93
those who remembered to have Mass said in their
room by a Missionary, there being no resiqent Pas­
tor; Baltimore, where now five parish Churches, one
splendid Cathedral, one Seminary, and five private
Chapels in the different Communities and Hospitals,
make twelve sanctuaries in which the 21 priests,
living with their Archbishop in that metropolis,
officiate. Poor Diocese of Vincennes! Let us, how­
ever, put trust in God, and wha� a change can a few
years, through His Blessing and the perseverance
of zealous souls, effect.
" Shortly after my return, Mr. Lalumíère came
home, and the account of his journey was very con­
soling. He had found more Catholics than I had,
and many places ready to receive a priest. In three
places they had begun to build Churches. At Fort
Wayne they were finishing one, 60 feet by 30, and
the Congregation numbers 150 Catholic families. I
was happy to send them the Rev. M. Ruff, from
Metz in France, recently ordained, and speaking the
three languages used there, French, English, and
German. Of the latter there are a good many liv­
ing there and in the environs. I had ordained Mr.
Ruff Subdeacon and Deacon before my journey to
Chicago, and had sent him to the Seminary of St.
Louis (St. Mary of the Barrens) to make his retreat,
and there he was ordained -priest by that excellent
prelate, Dr. Rosati.
" We �ave as yet no Seminary, no College, no re-


94 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
lig ious establishment in any part of the Diocese,
except an academy and school kept in Vincennes by
four Sisters of Charity from the House of Nazareth
in Kentucky. They had been recalled to Nazareth
some months before I came. My first care was to
secure their return, and they resumed their school
the end of last April. When I left they had four
boarders and about fifty day scholars."
As soon as he arrived at his Diocese, he perceived
immediately that, in order to provide for its urgent
wants, it would be necessary to obtain Priests from
Europe-the harvest was already ripe, or rather was
perishing for want of some one to gather it in, and
it would not do to wait until they had found or
raised up labourers from among themselves. He
determined, however, to make the above described
visitàtion in order to understand the extent and ex­
act nature of its necessities from personal observa­
tion. In his Letters to his friends, describing his
journey, he enters into many details, which are
omitted in his communication to the Leopoldine
Association, as not becoming the gravity of what
may be regarded as an official document."
55 In one Letter he speaks of having travelled 550 miles on horseback
during the last six weeks. He describes very graphically the little groups
of emigrants whom he fell in with, exploring the country and seeking for
new homes-his conversation with them and the scattered residents, tak­
ing advantage of every opportunity, in a quiet, unobtrusive manner, to do
away with their prejudices in regard to the Catholic Church, and to instruct
them in its real doctrines and principles. Wherever he heard of a Cath­
olic family, he spared evidently no labour or fatigue to find them out and


Sz"m01t William Gabriel Bruté. 95
But in all of them there is not a word of mur­
muring or an expression of discouragement. His
whole life had been an act of conscientious' and
ever-increasing self-devotion, and the difficulties
which now stood in his way only served to increase
his zeal and activity. As soon as he had made him­
self acquainted with the condition of his Diocese, he
immediately took the necessary steps to provide for
its wants so far as was in his power. His heart in­
stinctively turned to his own country in t�e hour of
need, and he again crossed the ocean to seek for
missionaries and for such pecuniary help as would
enable him to finish his Cathedral and provide
schools for the education of the young. His notes
and memoranda indicate that he found himself very
much out of place in the courts and among the
grand personages with whom his office and the ob­
ject of his journey brought him in contact. He
was received, however, everywhere with the greatest
kindness." He took advantage of the opportunity
visit them, and his descriptions of their lonely situation in the then wil­
derness are very touching. Sometimes it is a poor negro, with his family,
emigrants from Maryland or Kentucky, living in the woods, all crowding
to the door to welcome the Bishop and get his blessing. Sometimes a re­
spectable white family, brought up amid Catholic privileges, now without
Priest, or Mass, or Catholic neighbors, and often exhibiting the sad effects
of such privations. No wonder that the poor Bishop's heart sometimes al­
most sank within him, and that he often exclaimed, as in a'Letter to
Bishop David, in mingled Latin and French, 'I Ostium magnum aperturn
-moyens nul à present."
56 The late Empress of Austria, and Prince Metternich in particular,
took the liveliest interest in providing for the wants of the new Diocese of
Vincennes, and loaded the good Bishop with kindnesses of every sort.


96 lIfemo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
to visit the 'Lim ina Apostolorum' and to receive
for himself and his Diocese the benediction of the
common Father of the Faithful, and then hastened
back to his home in the wilderness.
A warm welcome awaited him on his return to his
Episcopal City, for all alike, Protestants as well as
Catholics, had become very much attached to their
good Bishop. And now commenced a new series
of labours which were to end only with his life,
which was drawing to its close. With the resources
which had been placed at his disposal in Europe,
he established a Diocesan College Seminary in his
Episcopal City, an Orphan Asylum and a Free
School. The surplus was spent in finishing his
Cathcdral " and in helping to erect small Churches
at certain points where they were most needed.
He brought twenty Priests and Seminarians with
him from France," but though his health had already
57" Besides, we are completely upside down with our Church repairs.
The Sanctuary unroofed, the nave and aisles a forest of scaffolding for the
plastering, then the steeple is to be got up-the wood already cut at St.
Francisville, and soon to sail up our proud Wabash, and go and tell the
skies, not a lie, as the tall column in. London, but the true love of Vin­
cennes for the honour of God. "-Letter to Rev. Mr. Shaw, Aug., 1838.
58 As we have seen, when he arrived in his Diocese there were but three
Priests in the whole of it, and one of these merely lent to him. In 1839,
the year of his death, the Catholic Almanac makes the following recapitu­
lation of the State of the Diocese :
Churches, 231 Religious Communities, -
Church Buildings, - 6 Theological Seminary, -
Stations occasionally visited, - 28 College for young men, -
Clergymen on the Mission, 221 Female Academy, -
Clergymen otherwise employed, 2 Free Schools, - -
2
2


Simon Wilham Gabriel Bruté. 97
begun to fail," he still performed the work of one
in the vigour and freshness of early manhood. At
home, he was at once the Bishop, the Pastor of the
Congregation, the Professor of Theology for his Sem­
inary, and a Teacher for one of his Academies. He
wrote twice a month to every Priest in his Diocese,
and thus communicated to them a portion of that
zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls
which formed the constant object of his every
thought and action. He visited every portion of
his Diocese repeatedly, and wherever he went he
engaged in all the duties of an ordinary Pastor.
Indiana and Illinois had at this time, as is well
known, embarked largely in that immense system
of internal improvements which, for the time being,
ended so disastrously. The labourers upon them,
mostly Irish Emigrants, suffered greatly from the
cholera and malignant fevers. One of the great af-
69 He caught a severe cold while riding on the outside of a stage coach
in Ohio, on his way to the Council at Baltimore in 1837, which ended in a
confirmed consumption. Bishop Bruté was tall in stature and thin, but
naturally very strong and vigorous. Recreation in the ordinary sense of
the word he never took, but on holydays and during the hours of recreation
at the College, he would often spend a portion of the time in making
paths among the woods, and in erecting a sort of Chapel on the mountain
side, which was known as the Grotto. His features were plain, but his
face was full of intelligence, and marked by that peculiar sweetness of ex­
pression which has been often noticed in the countenances of very holy
persons-a sort of celestial radiance which came from the pure and holy
soul within, and which often made a vivid impression upon those who ap­
proached him. He would never permit his likeness to be taken, and the
only portrait of him which exists was from a cast taken after his death. It
g-ives a very g-ood representation of his features.


98 Memo£rs of the Rt. Reuerend
flictions which Bishop Eruté had to suffer was
being unable to provide for the spiritual wants of
these poor people, whose lively faith and generous,
impulsive nature had attached him very warmly to
them. He often went among them himself-heard
their Confcssions- celebrated Mass for them in
their miserable cabins, and prepared the sick and
dying for the awful passage to eternity. In the
words of Dr. McCaffrey, "Difficulties that would
have disheartened almost anyone else, only served
to increase his zeal and charity. Having com­
menced a journey of four hundred miles in such a
state of bodily suffering that he could not sit up­
right on his horse, he nevertheless completed it
without the intermission of a single day. Shortly
before his death, he left Vincennes to visit a distant
mission, which he had already visited thrice within
the year, and though so weak and attenuated "thai
he co uld scarcely su pport his tottering frame, in the
absence of the Pastor he attended to three distant
sick-calls on the same day, and, almost dying, ad­
ministered the consolations of religion to those who
appeared no nearer mortal dissolution than him­
self." It was the same with him until the last mo­
ment." His resolute will and fervent zeal seemed
60 To judge from his Letters, the thought of rest or retirement never
seems to have entered into his mind, or, if it did, he put it away from him
-thus writing to 1\1r. Shaw in 1838, when, broken down by sickness, the
vision of a quiet upper room in a friend's (Mr. Blenkinsop's) house passes
across his mind, and for a moment he indulges the wish that he might be


Simon W£ll£a11z Gabrz"el Bruté. 99
to triumph over painful and debilitating disease,
which was destroying his body; and when no
longer able to work himself, he cheered on those
w ho were engaged in the task with words full of
courage and enthusiasm, His Letters at this
period also bring still more strongly in relief, on ac ...
count of his inability to labour himself, a point in
his character for which he had al ways been remark­
able-his kind consideration for others. n seemed
to grieve him to give orders without being able to
take his share of the labor necessary to carry them
into execution;" Among the Priests of his Diocese
at this time was the Rev. Michael Shaw," a C011-
vert to the Catholic Church, who had formerly, I
permitted to rest there until death; but he immediately checks himself,
and adds: "But shame! non recuso laborem. "
61 This activity was not merely the effect of temperament, but rather the
result of his zeal and dislike of slothfulness. Naturally, he was fond of
retirement and study. He invariably rose after his first sleep, If he felt
drowsy afterwards, he would say, as if addressing hi� body, " If you want
more sleep, you must take it the next time' you get a chance."-Rev. Mr.
Hickey.
il2 The Rev, Mr. Shaw erected the first Church at Madison, Ind. The
difficulties he had to encounter, judging from the Bishop's answers to his
Letters, must have been very great. The Bishop was evidently much at­
tached to this good Priest, and did all he could to aid and encourage him. .
The following little note, written on a scrap of paper and addressed to
Mr. Shaw, is characteristic of Bp. Bruté-of his liveJy faith and sympathy
with the feelings of others: "St. George's Day, 1838. How many asso- .
ciations ! from the days of St. Paul and Lucius-of St. George and Saint
Alban-St. Austin-the Venerable Bede-St. Eùward-and the innumer­
able Saints of fifteen ages, to the days of Fisher and More and Mary, and
the glorious victims of our divine Faith-to those of our Milner and Lin­
gard, and the host of able and fervent restorers of its glories for England.
"The mind and heart dwell to-day, in this land of hope and promise­
�nd mine earnestly so, my dear Sir, in union with yours: The days of


100 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
believe, been an officer in the British army. I have
in my possession a large n umber of N otes and Let­
ters which the good Bishop wrote to him during the
last years of his life. They are entirely unstudied
-written upon the spur of the moment, but are
full of interest, not only as exhibiting all the beau­
tiful traits of his character-his lively faith, his ac­
tive usefulness, and his ardent zeal-but also as
giving an insight into the nature of his administra­
tion. It was characterized, as I have remarked, by
the most untiring energy and perseverance. N o
good work once undertaken was ever allowed to
stand still; and it is impossible to understand how
so m uch was done in so short a time, especially as
most of it was accomplished while the States of
Illinois and Indiana were labouring under the most
severe financial embarrassments."
such praise to God in Bangor and Croyland and Winchester, &c. &c.­
the holy Victim offered everywhere is present tó both of us. Accept, dear
friend, these remembrances of the day • . . . of the Faith-Memo­
riam fecit miribilium suorum."
With all his tender affection, however, for Mr. Shaw, he was very care­
ful not to allow any fault to go unreproved; thus in another Letter he
writes to him: "I cannot forbear, my beloved brother and son in Christ,
chiding you for one sentence you have allowed to escape you, and which
is not according to order. 'I am willing,' you say, 'to serve Madison as
long as Mr. -- is legitimately occupied in making collections under
your authority, but I am not willing to stay here, merely to enable him to
run about the country at his own pleasure, and neglect every duty con­
nected with his charge.' Alas! my dear friend, we are all obliged in this
world to fulfil the duties of our charge, with all care and affection for it,
for God's sake, even in sight of others not so faithful as they ought to
be."
63 What makes it the more wonderful is, that the Bishop seems to have


Simon William Gabriel Bl/Uté. 101
But at length the poor body, to which he had
given'little rest for so many years, refused to do its
work any longer. I cannot better describe the
closing scenes of his eventful and well-spent life
than in the words of the beautiful discourse from
which I have so often quoted. Its author received
the details from the mouths of those who had wit­
nessed them. "Death," he says," which could be
no unwelcome visitor to one whose thoughts, hopes,
and affections all centred in a better world, found
him full-handed of good works, and longing only to
be dissolved and to be with Christ. Invincibly pa­
tient and resigned under the severest suffering, full
of tender piety, calm, collected, and brightly exhib­
iting his characteristic virtues to the last, he set a
beautiful example of the manner in which a Chris­
tian should prepare himself to run his final race and
to Will the Crown of a glorious immortality. As
his strength diminished, his devotion increased. He
sought no alleviation for his sufferings: on the C011-
had a great horror of running into debt, and would sign no mortgage upon
Church Property. The assistance he received from Europe enabled him
to carry out for a while these good resolutions; but if he had lived a few
years longer, he would probably have found himself obliged to modify
them somewhat. Personally, he cared nothing about money. As Father
Hickey said to Mr. Miles, "If he had five dollars in his pocket, it went to
the first person who asked for it." His clothes were always very plain,
and he often gave away everything except what he had upon his back;
and even these were not safe, for he has .been known repeatedly to take
off his linen and underclothes and give them to the poor negroes whom
he was accustomed to visit.


Simon William Gabriel Hrtu», 103
night, until his mortal agony had begun. When his
friends affectionately sought to know what they
could do to relieve his sufferings, he would answer
them by pointing out some passage of Sacred
Scripture, �r Chapter of the Following of Christ,
which he desired them to read to him, or by asking
them to say some prayers for his happy death. No
agonies of pain could extort from him a single ex­
pression of distress. 'The will of God be done,'
was the constant language of his lips, as it was the
abiding sentiment of his heart. When preparing
to receive the holy Viaticum, he wrote to us in
the true spirit of saintly humility, requesting the
prayers of our Seminary and of the Sisterhood,
and begging pardon for whatever offences or bad
example he had ever given to anyone at either
institution. A few days before his dissolu tion the
strength of his naturally vi�orous constitution ral­
lied for a time, and his physician promised him at
least a temporary recovery: he told the physician
he was mistaken, and, whether he knew it supfr­
naturally or otherwise, named the exact time of
his approaching departure. He gave himself the
orders for preparing his grave, and as calmly
directed the modes of sepulture, and proper rites
to be observed, as if he was discharging an ordi­
nary duty. On the morning of the day before his
death he remarked to the clergyman, who attended
him with unwearied solicit ude and affection: 'My


10-+ jJ£emoirs of the Rt. Re'l'trend
dear child, I have the whole day yet to stay with
you; to-morrow with God!' To another pious
friend he used these simple but expressive words:
, I am going home.' Heaven was indeed his home;
he had always so regarded it; there was his trea­
sure; his heart was there; he had ever longed to be
with God, and 'see Him as He is '; and now the
door of the Father's House was opening to him,
and Angels were on the wing to meet his departing
spirit and conduct it to its place of rest. He was
happy, therefore, amid the pangs and terrors of
death; for he trusted that he was but going home.
After having received the last Sacrament, he di­
rected the departing prayers to be recited, which
he answered devoutly and fervently until the last,
and then on the morning of the zôth of J une, at
half-past one o'clock, he calmly and sweetly surren­
dered his soul into the hands of his Creator.
" His death was deplored as a gener�l calamity.
H� was especially lamented by the poor, the widow
and orphan. The people of Vincennes felt that
they had lost a public benefactor, and his own flock,
both clergy and laity, bewailed, as well they might,
the death of such a Pastor. All, with one accord,
mourned for the scholar, the philanthropist, and the
saint. Crowds of persons of every rank, and of all
denominations, visited his corpse and assisted at the
ceremonies of his burial. The 1\1 ayor and civic


Si1JtOJZ "YVz'lliam Gabriel Bruté. lOS
authorities, and learned Societies of Vincennes
passed resolutions to attend his funeral. The whole
population poured forth to accompany, in solemn
silence, his honoured remains to their last resting­
place on earth." 65
According to custom, his body was buried under
the Sanctuary of his Cathedral." The memory of
ee Discourse by Rev[ Dr. :McCaffrey, ut supra.
66 I cannot refrain from inserting ¡fere, though without his permission, a
portion of a Letter which I lately received from the Rev- E. Audran, Pas­
tor of the Cathedral of Vincennes, in answer to my request for a copy of
the inscription on the Bishop's tomb:
Right Rev. Sir:
VINCENNES, July 31st, 1860.
"Bishop Bruté was first buried under the Sanctuary of the present
Cathedral. In the month of November, 1840, the floor of the Sanctuary
having been raised and the whole ground under it dug out to make room
for a subterranean chapel, the body was removed and placed immediately
behind the Altar of this chapel. It has remained there ever since.
,¡ The following is the inscription on the wall above his tomb. Bishop
Rosati wrote it :
, , Hic jacet Simon Gabriel Bruté, Episeopus Vincennensis. Primítus Rhe­
donis in Galliis XII kal, Ap. MDCCLXXIX. Humanioribus litteris in
patria, Severioribus in Parisiensi Academia, et tandem Divinis in Celeber­
rimo S. Sulpitii Seminario operam felicissimarn dedit.
"Inter Olerii discipulos annumeratus religion is propagandœ desiderio
flagrans ex Galliis Americam navigavit Anno MDCCCX. Hic Juventutis
institutioni addictus Baltimorensi S. Mariée Collegio primum prœfuit,
Turn in monte S. Marice ad Emmittsburgum adolescentibus iis prœsertim
qui in Sorte Dñi vocantur humanis et Ecclesiasticis disciplinis verbo et ex­
emplo excolendis indefessus ineubuit.
, , A Gregorio XVI Pontifiee Maximo ad Vineennopolitanam Sedem nuper
erectam omnibus aeclamantibus appellatus, humilis Christi discipulus solis
suis oeulis vilis ut pastorale munus suseiperet adduci vix potuit. In Eccle­
sia Cathedrali S. Ludovici Episcopus inunetus et conseeratus V kal. Nov.
MDCCCXXXIV novam Diocesim solus perlustravit. Operarios evangelí­
cos ad illam excolendam adsciscendi gratia LI Europam profeetus illinc lec­
tissima . sacerdotum caterva stipatus reversus, vineam sibi concreditam,


106 llIel1zoù's o.f tlteRt. Rev. S. I¥. G. Bruté.
"good Bishop Bruté," as he is always called, had
not been dimmed by time. Those who knew him,
and who were trained. to virtue by his precepts. and
example, love to speak of him, to repeat his words,
and to tell the incidents of his saintly life. Of
all the holy missionaries whom God has from
time to time sent to plant the seeds of Faith
in this new country. no name is more often
. repeated, no labours are more often dwelt upon,
than his, and thus the undying influence of his
beautiful example still helps on the good cause to
which his life was devoted-the salvation of souls
and the greater glory of God.
plantare, colere, irrigare, ampliare, defendere modis omnibus, verbo, opere,
scriptis, laboribus, sudoribus, ad extremum usque vitœ, quam pro ovibus
suis bonus pastor impendit non cessavit.
" Supremum diem obiit VI kaI. J unii MDCCCXXXIX.
"The rerr.oval of the body took place privately at six o'clock in the morn­
ing-none being present but his successor the Rt. Rev. Bishop De la Hail­
andiere, who performed the office laid down in the ritual for the occasion,
and a few ecclesiastics and religious. I was present. A feeling of pious
veneration and-a desire to know what had become of the mortal remains of
the saintly man whose angelical virtues were still perfuming all round us.im­
pelled us to open the simple wooden coffin. But the decay was complete;
and although but little more than a year had elapsed since his death, the
vestments which adhered yet to a skeleton could alone recall to the mind
something of his outward form. We closed the coffin in silence, and
remembered that it was humility he loved above all.
" Lying by his side, on the right hand of the Altar, is the body of the
Right Rev. Stephen Bazin, third Bishop of Vincennes.
" Respectfully yours,
"in our Lord J. C.
"E� AUDRAN, pt."
ßctcrnitas.


SKETCHES
OF THE
FRENCH
REVOL UTION.
"Nos ùzsensati vitam -illorum œstïmaôamus insaniam, et fine»: alorum
sine honore : ecce, quomodo computaN sunt inter filios Dei, et inter semetos
sors iI/orum est�"-LIB. SAP" Cap. v. 4, 5.





SOME BRIEF NOTES
Of "'!n)' Recollect£ons connected w£th the Persecu­
Hon. -in France -in 1793', and the following
Years.
111 EING a boy of fourteen years of age in
1793, I was often sent by my family to
attend the tribunals which were sitting
in our City of Rennes, to witness and
bring baek information in regard to the trials of our
priests. On account of the excessive terror which
prevailed, and the fear of betraying themselves to
danger, by manifesting their feelings amid the savage
mob which generally attended them, grown-up peo­
ple dared not go. I myself never had the courage
to follow the victims to the scaffold, but I went to
the tribunals. There were at this time three tribu­
nals sitting, sometimes the same day, and sending
their victims to the Guillotine, or the Fusillade,
viz.: the regular Criminal Court, to which generally
Ioq


I 10 llfemoirs of the Rt. Reoerend
the priests were sent; the Revolutionary Tribunal,
which took cognizance chiefly of the so-called poli­
tical conspirators, and before which few Ecclesi­
astics were brought-I do not remember to have
attended any there--and thé Military Commission,
where those taken in arms or about the place of
some encounter were judged. Once I witnessed
there the trial of a Brother of the Christian Schools.
The three tribunals did not, however, observe any
very strict limits of jurisdiction; but I seldom at­
tended others than the Criminal Court. When I
assisted at the trial of these holy victims, I . could
repeat almost word for word the various questions
and answers; and I have often regretted that I did
not write themdown at the time--but, in truth, I
dared. not do it--for so oppressive was the fear of
keeping any memoranda, which in the frequent and
sudden domiciliary visits might have been found,
that the most valuable and interesting-papers, and
even printed documents, were destroyed-especially
in families exposed to suspicion and danger, as on
many accounts ours was. I remember that, wish-
•
ing to preserve a copy of the Testament of Louis
XVI., I put it into a bottle well corked and sealed,
and buried it in the ground; but when a long time
after I dug it up, the wet had found its way into
the bottle and nearly destroyed the paper. After­
wards when, in better times, I ought to have written
my recollections, I trusted to my memory, and de-


Simo« W£lliam Gabrùl Bruté. I I I
ferred doing so. And now (18 I 8), that at last I
have made the attempt, in these notes, to record
and fix my remembrances, I find that a great deal
has passed away from my mind, or become to a
certain degree confused and uncertain. I have
written, however, the following pages, as correctly
as was in my power, and have recorded the circum­
stances exactly as they occurred, and were wit­
nessed either by myself, or told to me at the time
by those who had every opportunity of being well
informed. It would be very difficult for me to con­
vey to others anything but a general idea of our
situation and the impressions we were under at that
time. As I gather up my scattered remembrances,
the whole comes back to me very vividly, and I
may be said to feel as I did then; but it would be
impossible for others to put themselves mind and
heart into our place, and realize what was the habi­
tual condition of Catholics at that time. During
the progress of the persecution, the greater number
of the Priests of the Diocese had been either guillo­
tined or shot, or transported to the penal colonies.
The mo;'e aged and infirm were imprisoned in the
Castle of Mount Saint Michael (about 50 miles from
Rennes). Of the few left, in deep concealment,
some were almost daily discovered, and, according
to the Law, led, with those who had harboured
them, to the guillotine within twenty-four hours.
All the Churches of the Diocese had been seized


I 12 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
upon and converted to profane uses.' Some were
used as storehouses for forage, hay, etc. ; some were
converted into casernes and stables; some into
1 I find the following memorandum on a loose sheet of paper among
Bishop Bruté's manuscripts:
Cñtercèes of Remus bifore allá a/1er tite ..Revolution.
J. The Cathedral S1. Melanie,* first Bishop of Rennes, an old, vast,
high-towering building-an abbey founded on this spot in the 6th century
-during the Revolution turned into a stable for the cavalry, the steps
leading to the grand entrance having been removed, and a sloping way
made for the horses, immense heaps of manure, &e., piled up on both
sides of the public square; the soldiers in their shirt-sleeves going out
and coming in, and at work about the horses, with continued oaths and
vile songs, some of them in mockery of the offices of the Church-mani­
festing their coarse impiety in every possible way.
2. Toussaint, All-Saínts'<-the largest and most beautiful church in the
city, turned into a stable-was burnt one day, with forty horses and some
of the men; the ruins cleared away, a public square now where it stood.
3. S1. Martin-pulled down; a garden occupies the spot, and a house
in the corner of the church-yard.
4. Sto Hêlier's.- This church, standing by itself, was turned into a
powder-magazine, the windows being closed up with mason-work ; since
repaired and restored to the use of the parishioners.
5. S1. Stephen's-made a depot for the wagons of the army, and a shop
for repairing them; still standing, but utterly desolate.
6. St. John's-also turned into a shop for the workmen of the army.
The whole interior was so completely destroyed that it has never been
restored to the use of Religion. It is at present occupied by the public
stages (messageries) of the city.
7. S1. George's.-Used as a stable for cavalry; since, part has been
demolished, and part left standing in a ruinous condition.
* It appears from the History of Rennes that St. Peter's was the ancient Cathe­
dralof Rennes. In the Plan of the City, as given in D' Argentré's History of
Brittany, 1616, it is thus stated :-St. Melanie's Church and Abbey was at that
time outside of the walls. St. Melanie was not the first Bishop of Rennes. The
first whose existenoe is well accertained was named Fcbedíolus, an. 459; the
second, Anthemius; the third, St. Amand; St. Melanie was the fourth. He died
in 530. The Church, or rather Cathedral, of St. Peter's, afterwards became dilapi­
dated, and was taken down, and the Abbey church of St. Melanie was made the
Cathedral.


-S£m01Z 'W£llial1z Gabriel E-ruté. I 13
manufactories, and some altered' into dwelling­
houses by those who bought thern ; some were
levelled with the ground in, order that the materials
8. St. Germain-was turned into a caserne, and then into a depot of artil­
lery; it was filled for many years with cannons, cannon carriages, &c.;
now repaired and restored to the use of the parishioners.
9. St. Sauveur's.-Made the Temple of Reason, and resounded with all
the, vile and blasphemous speeches of the times; afterwards restored to
religious uses.
10. St. Laurent's.-Long neglected and almost in ruins j at length
repaired and restored. It was in this church I married my brother to his
good wife.
So much for the parish churches. As regards the convents and religious
houses:
II. The Convent of the Cordeliers was turned into a stable for the
cavalry, then into a depot of wagons; finally part of it was re¡tored and
given to the Seminary.
12. The Convent of the Carmelites.-Levelled to the ground; a street.
13. The Convent of the Minims.-Bought by an architect, who turned
it into an elegant house.
- 14. The Convent of the Augustins.-The general blacksmith's shop of
the army j since restored, and serves for the parish of St. Stephea,
IS. The ]acobins.-The bake-house for the army j still abandoned and
half in ruins.
16. Th .. e Capuchins-became a· private dwelling with its fine walks and
shades.
17. The discalced Carmelites.-A private store-house.
18. St. Aubin (a parish church)-turned into a stable, then into a store;
half ruined, afterwards restored.
19. The Visitation-turned into a store and private dwelling-house.
20� The Second Visitation-into the Grand Masonic Hall.
21. The Ursulines-A barrack; half destroyed.
22. The Second Ursulines-the house of a notorious Atheist.
23. The Trinity-Convent of Refuge, into a prison.
24. The Good Shepherd-another house of refuge j also into a prison.
25. The House of Retreat-a barrack for soldiers.
26. The Diocesan Seminary=-into a hospital for the soldiers.
27. The Preparatory Seminary-a barrack.
28. St. Cyr-into a hospital for foul diseases of the wicked.
29. The Grand Hospital-turned into a school and depot of artillery.
30. The Mother House of the Sisters of Charity-sold.


114 Memo£l's of the Rt. Reuerend
might be sold, or to make room for new streets:
some, in short, were turned to the worst of purposes
(yet under Providence, by this means', preserved) ;
changed into temples for the decadi, the festivals of
the national calendar, so curious a thing by itself,
or for the clubs and political assemblies of the time,
All the old and' best families, the most zealous for
Religion, were not only deprived of all public exer­
cise of it, but were scarcely able to practise their
private- and secret devotions in the interior of their
houses. It was forbidden by law, and under penal­
ties of .!.lne and imprisonment, to observe Sunday
or to distinguish it in any way from common days,
whilst the decadi, or every tenth day, which had
been substituted for the Sunday and made the legal
day of rest, was under the same penalties enforced,
by ceasing from labor, keeping the shops closed,
&c. Such a state of things, -which was the habitual
condition of the whole population from the end
of 1792 until 1795, had brought the minds of those
31. The House of the Daughters of Wisdom-sold.
32, 33. The two Houses of the Brothers of the Poor Schools-sold.
34. The House of the Confraternity of Notre Dame-turned into a
store-house, afterwards into a stable.
35. The Chapel of St. James-into a store for toys, then into a dwelling-
house.
36. St. Ives, Hospital-preserved but long shut up.
37. St. Yves, where the Canons officiated-into a store.
38. The Hospital of the Incurables-preserved, but no chapel per-
mitted. '
39. The Calvary-into a place of meeting for the Revolutionary Club, a
store, and then a theatre.


I 16 Memoirs of the Rt. ReVe1'e1Zd
the month of " Fructidor" they had exhibitions of
Fruits and of the various returns of the harvest, in
their special times, &c., &c. Now it all seems like
a dream, and these exhibitions and -processions have
a ridiculous effect, as seen through the faint me­
mory of them. Those who had established them
supposed that they would accustom the multitude
to do without Religion, except the religion of na­
ture, as they called it. As each' Decadi came
around, they endeavoured to make it more attractive
by new invent�ons of pompous shows, or philoso­
phical and sentimental exhibitions, mixing up with'
them special ovations and songs, civic -banquets and
public games, copied from the old Greek and Ro­
man Republics. The first year, and first round of
these profane and systematic attempts to root out
the Christian Religion from the hearts of the peo­
ple and make them Infidels, went on with such a
continual supply of novelty and interest, for the
multitude, that it made an impression which now it
would be difficult to estimate correctly. Even.
then, however, the effect was often very ridiculous,
and as the repetition of each Decadi proved more
forced and tiresome, it became dark and hopeless,
as the times were the best mark by which we could
'measure the slow but certain return of the old and
true Religion, and the failure of this impious scheme
-self-defeated--:as it proved. The thought, the
very, memory of those miserable exhibitions, has


Simor: T¥£llia11t Gabriel B1"Uté. I 17
vanished away. For instance, the Festival of Di.
vorce! Who now can form an idea of the manner
in which it was celebrated? It was on one of the
Decadi, at the Temple of Reason-a Player from
the Theatre, the Orator of the day. I have in my
possession his discourse in print--all furious non­
sense against Religion, and its oppression of our
liberty, in making marriage indissoluble, &c. These
things are gone and forgotten, but the admirable
virtues then displayed by those holy Confessors
who remained faithful to their religion will live
through eternity, in the heavenly records.
It was my object in the following pages to record
some of those scenes of fidelity and Christian hero­
ism, as memory brought them back to me. After
I had written them out (in 1818) I found that seve­
ral of them had also been recorded by the Abbé
Carron." But how many cases are not recorded in
his precious Memoirs! The first one, for instance,
which I have sketched, that of M. Raoul, and of
which I was a witness. The drawing which ac­
companies it presents an exact picture of the
scene at the Tribunal, or very nearly so; al­
though at this moment it is nearly 27 years ago,
yet it is as vivid in my mind as if I was still there,
2 The work of the Abbé Carron here alluded to is, "Les Confesseurs de
la Foi dans l'Eglise Gallicane, ala fin du dix huitième Siècle," 4 vols. ramo,
Paris, 1820. I have gathered from it some additional particulars in regard
to confessors mentioned in the following pages, 'and placed them in the
notes.


I 18 MeJ1to£rs of tùe Rt. Revermd
boy as I then was, standing behind and leaning
upon the seat of the holy Confessor, with nothing
but the railing of the Tribun.al between us-my
poor heart beating so violently all the time.
Trial of the Priest and the three Sisters of La Cha ..
pelle St. Aubert, Diocese of Rennes.
"Mr. Raoul, and the three good Sisters of La
Chapelle St. Aubert, have been seized and brought
to the city yesterday; to-day they are to be tried."
Such was the sad news of the morning, and about
8 or 9 o'c. I saw them passing under our windows
on their way to the Tribunal, followed by the mob,
who accompanied them with the usual cry, "à la
Guillotine." I immediately went after them, and,
young as I was, crept along from place to place
until I got so near that I stood immediately behind
M. Raoul seated upon the bench, with my arms
folded upon the railing, almost touching his back.
The Sisters were seated upon a bench across the
other side of the floor. The Judges elevated with
their seats upon a higher floor, about upon a level
with the heads of the Prisoners, and the Gen­
darmes. The President of the Court was Bouas­
sier, who had been a reputable attorney of Rennes,


Sim,Olt Wz'll£am Gabriel Bruté. 119
esteemed before the Revolution as a good, moral
man, but a philosopher, as our French Deists were
called ;. naturally kind-hearted, but gradually drawn
on ... , or rather pushed on from one excess to another,
and then fixed in his dreadful position by personal
fear. "Thy name and age," said the President.
" Raoul-Bodin" (not certain of the second name )'='
answered the Priest, aged 70 years, or perhaps
more, I do not exactly remember, but I still see
the worthy man, as he sat there, tall, very thin,
with a bald forehead, hair quite gray, a placid,
noble, and truly religious countenance. " Thy pro­
fession?" "A Priest-Curé of La Chapelle St.
Au bert." "Didst thou take the civic oath? ,t -l
" No, citizen." "Why not?" was then asked;
and he answered "because he could not, accord­
ing to his conscientious views of the subject:'
Two or three short questions and answers may then
have taken place which I do not call to mind, but
I remember distinctly that the good old man began
3 "I cannot recall the name-it was Raoul, or Craoul-mell j but it has
faded from my memory."-Note by Bj. Bruté. It appears from Tresvaux,
"Histoire," &c. vol. ii. p. II4, that his name was Raoul-Bodin, as Bp,
Bruté first wrote it. The name of the noble and charitable ladies who
perished with him was La Gracière. There were two other Priests con­
cealed in their house, who escaped. They were denounced to the authori­
ties by a Tiler from Fougéres, who saw the Priests when mending the
roof. The inhabitants of Chapelle St. Aubert would have rescued Mr.
Raoul from the Gendarmes when they arrested him, but he dissuaded
them. M. Tresvaux says that his memory is still venerated in that place.
They were put to death on the 8th of October, 1794.
, The oath to the civil Constitution of the Clergy, as mentioned at p. 27.


120 Me11ZO£n of the Rt. Reverend
to entreat in favour of the three Sisters in whose
house he had been arrested -speaking in a very
calm but very affecting and impressive manner, to
the President and the court, for two or three min­
utes, until he was repeatedly silenced. The tones
of his voice are still sounding in my ears; his words
were to this effect: "Citizens, judges! will you put
to death these poor ladies, for an act of hospitality
so inoffensive to. the public-so natural, so worthy
of their kind hearts, when I had been for twenty
years (or more) their Pastor? Do spare them,
citizens; it becomes so much better the Republic to
shO\V clemency," &c. "Silence! They must speak
for themselves. Silence! I t is none of thy office
to address the Tribunal in their favour. Silence!
citizen." He was compelled to stop, and sat down
(he had stood up whilst speaking) and looked to­
wards the poor Sisters, who were then, succes­
sively, cailed upon to give their names and age,
and acknowledge that they knew the Priest and
gave him asylum in contravention to the national
. decrees. They were three elderly Sisters, between
45 and 50 years of age, or more, of a most respecta­
ble arid gentle appearance and dress-s-a calm, simple
. deportment before the Tribunal. They lived on
their estate at Chapelle St. Aubert. One of them
had been a Religious, expelled by the decrees of
the Convention from her Convent, and obliged to
return and live with her Sisters. She was now





j
I
i


.I 22 Memo'Ïrs of the Rt. Reverend
pied but a short time-being, in fact, a mere form­
ality, since the Letter of the Law was most express,
" the Priest and those who harbour him to be put to
death within twenty-four hours after being seized."
The President then proceeded, after scarcely a
moment's conference with the other Judges, to
apply this cruel enactment, and to pass sentence of
death, in the name of the Republic, upon the Priest
Raoul and the three, Sisters who had given him
asylum-e-adding the usual order, that all the reli­
gious objects found in the house, arid which in the
language of the sentence were styled" les hochets Ó
du fanatisme," should be previously burned at the
sid s of the scaffold,
When the sentence had been pronounced the
N un could not restrain her feelings of indignation.
She rose from her seat, snatched from her cap the
national cockade, which even the women were
obliged to we,ar during these days of delusion, and,­
trampling it under her feet, she addressed alter­
nately the J udges and the people with two or
three sentences of vehement reproach: "Barbarous'
people!" she exclaimed, "amongst what' savage
nations has hospitality ever been made a crime,
punishable with death?" I cannet now call to
mind her other expressions, except that she ap­
pealed to the higher tribunal of God, and denounced
his judgment against them.
5 Hochets-Children's playthings.


S im011- "'VilNam Gabriel B ruté. 123
Her Sisters tried in the meanwhile to check her,
and recall her to silence. The one who sat next to
her pulled gently at her dress (I can see her now),
as ifurging her to stop.
All was soon hushed to silence, and the Judge
addressed, as usual, an emphatic' and opprobrious
charge to the victims, and particularly the Priest,
with bitter reproaches for their fanaticism, as he
called it-addressing himself also to the spectators
with energetic declarations of their determined re­
solution to free the Republic from all dangers, and •
have the Priests and their accomplices and dupes
brought to the same punishment; the whole a
most shocking piece of outrage, and raving enthu­
siasm still more shocking, as coming from one who,
like the unfortunate Bouassíer, had enjoyed él. cha­
racter little fitted for such a horrid profanation of
every best principle.
During the whole time M. Raoul was engaged in
prayer. Methinks I can still Ílear the sounds, and
low, little swellings of his prayer-some of the
Psalms, it seemed from the Latin final or syllable,
rising from time to time in a half-suppressed mur­
mur-whilst the J ailer or Executioner (for he was
always present) was putting on the handcuffs, and
securing them so tight that I remember the Priest
gave signs of uneasiness, and looked at the man as
if entreating him not to screw them so tight.
N o further distinct recollections connected with


Sinton William, Gabrie] Bruté. 125
neuve, at the Hospital of Vannes, but had bêen
driven out for remaining faithful to her vows, and
refusing to take the civic oaths. I often visited
Mr. Touchet in his place of concealment. He was
my confessor after Mr. Carron went to England:
I was, of course, obliged to use great care when I
went to see him, and I well remember the cautious
manner of introduction; the back room where he
was concealed,' his manner, the room itself, the.
curtains, and every little circumstance are indelibly
impressed upon my memory. When I had finished
my confession, he would often say to me that per­
haps it was the last time I would have an opportu­
nity of going to my confession to him, that perhaps
that day or the next he would be discovered and
h·l tu the scaffold. When the last stretch of rage
caused the Convention to put forth the law, de­
nouncing death on those who should harbour a
Priest, the good ladies felt happy at the prospect
of receiving their reward by dying with Mr. Tou­
chet, if they should be found out. Before he had
heard the news they took counsel together and
formed their resolution. When the horrid decree
came to his knowledge, he went to them and said,
" I will leave you to-night." They asked, "Where
7 The house was on the corner of the' Rue Dauphine' and the' Rue
Châteaurenaud.' Many zealous, faithful families occupied that corner on
the two streets-the Desbuillons, Rebulets, Boudons, Beauvais, Frout ;
the place was often subject to domiciliary visits on the part of the authori­
ties.-Note by BiShop Brutë,


126 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
are you going? " Ho To the fields, as long as I can
hide myself in the woods, and thickets, and ditches.
I am resigned to die, but.I will be the occasion of
death to no one." But they told him that they
would be but too happy to die with him; that they,
had unanimously taken their resolution, and made
their little testamentary dispositions," if any were
aflowed, and that, moreover, as they could only
die once, whether for concealing one or many, they
had sent word to some of their friends that if they
were afraid of this new Law they might send to
them the Priests they 'had concealed, and they
would cheerfully receive and shelter them. The
good N un added gaily, " I have sewed into the hem
of my robe a flint, a match, and a candle, so that
when we are left alone, in our dungeon we may have
light enough to recite our Breviary 9 for the last
time." It happened, however, that although they
often had three Priests hidden in their house at one
time, they were never discovered and apprehended,
and.I continued to visit Mr. Touchet there, from
time to time, until the persecution was over, and he
was permitted to resume the public exercise of his
ministry" not at St. Hélier 's," however, but at St.
8 The property of those who were put to death was confiscated. It was
partly restored at a later period, but not that of those who had emigrated.
9 The N uns, properly so called, are obliged to recite the daily office of
the Church. the same as Priests.
10 St. Hélier was turned into a Powder-Magazine, the windows filled up
with masonry, the steeple taken down, &c. St. Augustin's was turned


S £l1ZOn vVilliam Gabriel B ruté. 127
Augustin's, where he remained until his death,
about 1806.
Mr. Massiot, the Vicar of Mr. Touchet, at St.
Hélier's, was deported or banished to Cayenne, in
South America, where so many died. He lived to
escape, and having made his way, with. incredible
hardships, through the woods and morasses which
lie back of the settlemen t, finally reached the
U nited States. From thence he went to England,
arid, after the law of death was repealed, returned
to France, though still exposed to prison and trans­
portation. When the persecution had entirely
ceased he was appointed Curé of Brutz, a Parish
about six miles from thecity, where I was sent to
assist during three weeks at Easter, in 1809. He
suffered very severely from rheumatism, which was
the consequence of his blessed hardships during the
time of the .persecution.
Dca tIt of tite Rev. Mr. Sarette, Professor oj u«.
manities at the College of Ra�zcs.
The Abbé Sorette was a young Priest, not yet
thirty years of age, when he was appointed Pro-
into a Blacksmith-shop for the troops-the whole interior was lined witt
anvils-forges at which they shod the horses; the pavement was broken
and covered with the dirt and filth of the shop, which constantly resounded
. with oaths and vile songs.-Note by Bùlz0P Brutë.
See Journal for an account of the Abbé Touchet's restoration to his
Parish.


128 jJ;femoirs of the Rt. Reve1'elld
fesser at the College of Rennes, the first year of
the French Revolution. I studied under him, and
became very much attached to him, and he took a
particular interest in me, and sometimes did my
mother the honour to come and dine with us. The
charming modesty, candeur, piety, and yet spright­
liness and gaiety of that most excellent man, en­
deared him to all who knew him. When the Re­
volutionary oaths were imposed upon the Clergy,
he refused to take them, and being expelled in
consequence from the College, he retired to the
Country Parish of Le Chatellier near Parigné," 16
] 1 I found among the Bishop's papers the following lettér from Mr.
Sorette to the Bishop's mother, written from this place. The Bishop had
written upon it: "A martyr since j wounded by a ball, he was obliged to
stop. They gave him five minutes to pray and then dispatched him-my
good Teacher!" The letter itself gives, in its simple details, a very good
idea of the manner in which "Revolutbns" are brought about, and is
not without instruction as bearing upon what is taking place in other parts
of Europe in our days.
MADAME,
When I arrived at Parigné, on the 3d of June, I found them all in
great distress. Our dear and excellent pastor, M. Guignette, had been
displaced on the 29th of May, by Dom. Verdier, Bernardine, Prior of the
Abbey of Savig�y. The inhabitants of Parigné were not all disposed to
submit to the change and accept the person who had thus been forced
upon them; they assembled in a crowd around the Presbytery, and would
certainly have pelted him with sticks and stones if it had not been for their
old Parish Priest, who at last succeeded in appeasing them. The intruder
had only four or five persons at his High Mass, and no more at the pro­
cessions on the Rogation days. One man carried the banner, another the
Cross, the Curé sung the Litanies, and a man· and two women, who were
his domestics, followed and sung the "ora pro nobis." On Ascension day
he was afraid to celebrate Mass, and shut himself up in the Presbytery,
with some soldiers and other persons, who kept guard for eight days.
PARIG:, 10 June, 1791.


Simon William Gabriel Bruté.
or 18 miles from Rennes. It was here that he had
been stationed by the Bishop, when first ordained,
and during the few years of his ministry had won
On last Sunday, a detachment of the National Militia from Fougéres
entered our town about 9 o'clock in the forenoon, with arms in their
hands, crying out, "To the lamp-posts with the aristocrats," and demand­
ing the heads of all Priests who had refused to take the civic oath. I was
the only Priest in the village, the Rector and Curé having fled the day
previous to keep out of the way of the lamp-post, with which the mob
had threatened them for a long time. Just as these troops arrived, I had
left the house to go and say Mass in a private chapel, but they had nailed
up the door, and declared that if they caught me they would cut off my
head.
These soldiers rung the bell for High Mass and Vespers; they forced a
number of persons to enter the Church, and shut others up in a Press
House, which they called their Guard House (corps de garde). They also
assembled the Municipality by force, and compelled about twenty or
thirty persons to certify the £1lstallatz"oJz of M. Verdier, Curé. They, in
fact, entered upon the register the names of several persons who did not
sign; others signed it through fear, surrounded by bayonets, and with the
intention of withdrawing their adhesion the first opportunity that pre­
sented itself.
One of the soldiers mounted up by a ladder, which was placed against
the wall inside of the Church, to efface some armorial bearings; but find­
ing himself slipping, he caught hold of a statue of St. Michael, to save
himself, but the statue, not being very firm on its base, both he and the
statue came tumbling down together.
At last, about 6 o'clock in the evening, they beat the retreat and started
for home, having left with M. the Rector a note, without signature, order­
ing all refractory Priests to leave the Parish within twenty-four hours,
under pain of being strung up to the lamp-post.
During the eight days which are now passed since tñe Rector and Curé
left, I have found mx-self so lonely that it seems as if I had been cast all at
once into a desert place. You see scarcely anyone moving about-our
good people remain in concealment. In vain do the bells ring out, to call
them to the church; the sound is no longer a source of pleasure to them,
but of grief, and causes them to shed tears of regret and bitterness. We
are obliged to go six or seven miles to be present at Mass. Those who are
in favour of the present order of things watch my every word and action,
in order to find an excuse for driving me out the Parish. I am, indeed,


130 lIIeJ7zoirs of the Rt. Reverend
the 'unbounded affection of his own and all the
neighbouring Parishes. "Mr. Sorette ! " with what
an accent of affection was that name pronounced by
everyone, before his death' and many years after­
wards. At Le Chatellier he exercised the duties
of his holy ministry, during the worst times of the
Revolution, with an undaunted zeal, surrounded in
the vicinity by many other Priests of the same fear­
less, unreserved devotedness; some of whom were
at last, like himself, amongst the victims which the
Diocese of Rennes offered to God for th e cruel sins
and horrid excesses of the times.
He indeed escaped during the whole reign of
Robespierre, and until the laws of death were re­
pealed. Banishment to French Guiana for the
younger Priests, perpetual im prisonmen t for the
older ones, who should exercise any of the func-
in a sad condition, but I do not wish to leave my mother until matters are
in a better state. The new Parish Priests are not acceptable to the people
in our district. At Fougéres, as here, 'the people will not go to their Mass.
Their few partisans, however, are very zealous in their favour, and it has
already caused much disturbance and bad feeling. I am told that in some
cases they have turned their servants, and even their relatives, out of
doors, because they refused to be present at Mass, when celebrated by
the intruders. I did not have the satisfaction of seeing my dear friend the
Abbé of Chateaugiron, in my journey from Rennes. When you have an
opportunity .please give him news of me, and to my Gabriel, to whom I
wish all success in his studies. .
If possible, I would wish to have a place of refuge prepared for me, to
which I may escape, if proscribed a second time, as they constantly threat­
en me at Fougéres.
I have the honour, madame, to remain, with profound respect and sin­
cere gratitude, your humble and obedient servant,
SORETTE, Priest.


S£mOJt W£lliam Gabriel Brza«. 131
tians of the holy ministry, were the milder orders
of the day.
The more zealous Jacobins, however, were much
displeased at this relaxation of the law, and often
eluded it. When they discovered any Priests in the
country, and were not restrained by the presence of
.some magistrate or leader not so desperately bent on
the destruction of the Priests as themselves, they
would often deliberately put them to death on the
_spot, rather than bring them to the city and deliver
them up to the au thori ties.
This was the fate of my dear and respected Pro­
fessor .. Unfortunately for him, the part of the De­
partment where he lived had always been most
active and conspicuous in its opposition to the N a­
tional Convention, so generally manifested in the
West, all-both sides of the River Loire.
The position of the Priests there was exceedingly
painful. Naturally, and fr011'1 principle, inclined to
. the side of the opposition, their sacred character
hindered them from mixing in the horrors of civil
war. They simply continued to fulfil the functions
of their holy ministry wherever they could, ready to
carry the succors of religion to whoever asked for
thew, whether friend or foe." In consequence, it
12 "It has been falsely asserted," says the Marchioness de la Rochejaque­
lein, "that the Priests fought, but they came to the field of battle only to
confess the dying, which they did in the hottest fire; and it is true that
their bodies were occasionally found. . . . They have been reproached
also with having excited the Vendeans to cruelty, Nothing could be more


132 Memoirs of the Rt. Reuerend
often happened that they were obliged to be pre­
sent, and prepare for death those who fell victims
to the severe, and sometimes unjustifiable, measures
by which the insurgents retaliated the cruelties of
those w ho were called the patriots. A Priest could
not, of course, refuse his ministry even under such
circumstances, and if he could not persuade the in­
furiated leaders or agents of the insurrection to
spare the lives of their enemies, he was obliged,
nevertheless, to be present, and try to save their
soul? I t will readily be perceived that the exer­
cise of their ministry under such circumstances
offered but too good a ground, especially in such
excited times, for the horrid calumny that the
Priests excited and urged on the people to these
cruel deeds of retaliation and revenge. It cannot
be doubted that these stories animated the enemies
and persecu tors of the clergy to persevere in the
schemes which had been laid under Robespierre
for their utter extermination, and which they now
saw to a certain extent foiled by the relaxation in
the law.
false; and, on the contrary, I could produce many traits of courageous
humanity highly honourable to them. Numbers owed their lives to their
intercessions with furious soldiers bent On slaughter. M. Douissis, Curé
of Saint Marié de Rhé, a most ardent follower of the army, prevented the
massacre of a great number of prisoners, by his feeling and eloquent ex­
hortations. Some years afterwards, being brought before a Republican
Tribunal, this action saved him."-31emoirs of the MarchioJlcss de la
Rocùefaçueteï», p. 236-7.


Simon William Gabriel Bruté. 133
Mr. Sorette led a life of continual alarm and dan­
ger, yet of untiring zeal in the fulfilment of his
duties. All his labours, however, I am certain, were
strictly kept within the pure and perfect line of his
priestly functions, which so excellent a man would
have cherished more dearly than his existence. To
be finally spent by the sacrifice of his life, after so
hard and faithful a service, during his many years of
concealment in his own Parish and the neighbour­
ing parts, was to him an enviable conclusion of his
work. Such were the sentiments he expressed to
me, with much fervour and alacrity of mind, two or
three weeks before his death.
He had at that time come to our city on his way
to the mineral waters of Guichen, twelve miles fur­
ther to the south. He had been advised to go
there for a double purpose-to repair his health,
which was much shattered by labour and exposure,
and to escape for a while from the search made for
his apprehension in his own part of the country
with redoubled activity.' He was concealed in the
suburb St. Martin (à la Pechardière en St. Gré ..
goire) at the château of the Ladies De Leon, and
whilst there sent word to my mother to let me
come and see him. My mother gave me the most
earnest charge to persuade him not to venture to
Guichen, but to come to our house and be secreted,
where he could be nursed and well taken care of,
the better because several physicians, good, reli-


134 Memoz"rs of the Rt. Reverend
gious men, were in the habit of visiting our family.
I hurried to him with most pleasing hopes to have
under our roof my beloved preceptor-and so good
a Priest-but they were in vain! I arrived at the
place, La Pechardière, was very cautiously ad­
mitted, and enjoyed a most agreeable interview
with him. He related to me many of his wonder­
ful escapes. But when I had easily made out to
prove �o him that it would be very unsafe for him
to take up his residence near the waters of Guichen,
the conclusion he drew was, that he had already
yielded too much to the advice of the physicians,
that he was not so ill as they thought, and that the
best thing he could do was to return to his poor
people, and remain with them to the last. N o
arguments, 110 entreaties, could make him accede
to the wishes of his friends at .Rennes. Two or
three days afterwards he returned to Parigné, or Le
Chatellier. I never heard directly from him again,
though he was accustomed, from time to time, to
write to me during those dreadful days which were
now drawing to a close for him.
Abou t three weeks after he had returned to his
mission we received the following information in
regard to his end. I.remember and relate almost
the words in which the tale was told to me: Poor
Mr. Sorette was called the other day to administer
the last sacrament to an old woman in a little farm
house. He had finished, and was coming back to


Simo}/, W£lliam� Gabrz"el Bruté. 135
his hiding place, when a party of Contre-Chouans,"
who were patrolling the country in search of vic­
tims, and who knew that Mr. Sorette was concealed
somewhere in that vicinity, asked a peasant girl
whom they met if she could tell them where they
would find the Priest, as they needed his services
for a sick person. It so happened that she had met
Mr. Sorette but a few moments before, and de­
ceived by their disguise, and supposing them to be
friends, she said to them, after a moment's hesita­
tion, Mr. Sorette has left that house yonder but a
minute since, and is passing along the hedge there
by the meadow. They immediately ran after him,
and as soon as they drew near fired their guns at
him and broke his arm. He immediately stopped
and surrendered, and then told them to lead him to
the city. But they knowing that in such a case he
would be only exiled to .Caycnne, told him that
they had resolved to put him to death. Mr. So­
rette then entreated them to allow him a few
minutes to say his prayers and prepare himself for
death. He then knelt down on the grass, and,
when they had waited a few moments, they shot
him on the spot. Some of his m urderers were
known, and among them two or three rabid J aco­
bins, who had committed many crimes of a similar
13 Patrîots, as they called themselves, in the disguise of Chouans, the
name given to those in that part of Brittany who had risen up against the
Revolutionary Government.


136 Menzoz"rs of the Rt. Reuerend
character during the time of Robespierre and after­
wards. Among the Parishioners of Mr. Sorette,
some were found more ready to obey the feeling of
indignation and revenge excited by his death than
those of mercy and forgiveness, which he had so
constantly preached to them \V hen alive. These
watched their opportunity, and, to complete the
picture of those sad times, we heard soon after­
wards that some of his murderers had been killed,
and sent to meet their holy victim before the
Judgment seat. Alas! they were more to be pitied
than he-s-he, in truth, so exceedingly happy. At
the altar, that morning, in some hidden corner, the
holy communion receiv-ed as viaticum, his ministry
of consolation and grace to the poor dying woman,
and then kneeling quietly on the grass, probably
his last words of prayer, like St. Stephen's, offered
up for those blind men, and his life a holocaust of
peace for his unhappy country.
Deatlt of t/ze Rev. Mr. Duval, Rector of Laignelet,
I was present when Mr. Duval, who was a very
respectable Physician at Rennes, received the news
of the m urder of his �lder brother, the Abbé Duval,
Rector of Laignelet, a Parish in the country, near
1\11". Sorettc's, about 18 miles from Rennes.
I had only seen the Abbé Duval once or twice at


Simo» W£llia11z Gabriel Bruté. 137
his brother's in Rennes. He was about 40 or 45
years of age, a very mild and serene countenance,
meekness being, indeed, a particular characteristic
of his disposition.
He had persevered throughout the whole time of
the persecution to exercise his holy ministry with
unabated zeal-no less devoted to his good people
that they were attached to him, and they were ex­
ceedingly so.
It became known, by some means or other, to the
bloodthirsty hounds who were continually search­
ing after the Priests, that Mr. Duval was to go, on
a certain night, to baptize the child of some poor
peasants who lived in a little cabin in the woods 011
the confines of his Parish, and they, consequently,
placed themselves in ambuscade near the way by
which they knew he would pass. He started late
in the evening with his guide, and had approached
so near to his intended murderers before he saw
them that there was 110 chance for him to make his
escape. He said to the man that was with him
that their only course was to advance boldly towards
them, and that, perhaps, that very boldness might
deceive them. The man hung back, but the Priest
walked steadily on his way as if apprehending no
danger. N o sooner, however, had he come oppo­
site to the place where his enemies stood, than one
of them crossed, the road towards him and, lifting
up Mr. Duval's hat, said to him, "Is it thou,


138 Mmzoirs of tite Rt. Reverend
Duval?" and the others who had followed him,
placing the'ir guns against his breast, shot him dead
upon the spot. The guide, who stood near, fled at
that moment, and could give no f ur th er particulars
-except those which I have related. The poor
parents of the child he was to baptize heard the
report of "the guns, but dared not venture out im­
mediately. When they thought that the murderers
had retired, they went in the dead of the night,
and, with the assistance of some neig�lbours, ren­
dered the last and only tokens of respect in their
power to the body of their beloved pastor, by bury­
ing it near the place where he had been murdered.
Oh! how the horrors of those times rush in upon
my recollections when I write these things.
A Priest and Peasant bound together and led to tite
" Fusillade," sillg£ng" the Service for tIte Dead.
One morning I was seated early at my studies,
about half-past five o'clock, when, to my surprise,
I heard at a distance the notes of the" Libera me
Domine" from the burial service of the church sung
by some one in the streets. The singers were evi­
dently hurrying along fast, and the sounds grew
more and more clear and distinct as they approached
the square upon which our house stood. For two
years all such chants had ceased in our streets, and


Simo7t TVillianz Gabriel Bruté. 139
therefore I jumped up anel ran hastily to the win ...
.. dow to see from whom they proceeded. I immedi­
ately perceived a group of twenty or thirty soldiers
hurrying along two men bound together, both in
the garb of peasants, but I saw immediately that
one of them was a Priest; his black hair floating
upon his shoulders, his beard long unshaven, the
very hat -upon his head, .are present to my vivid
recollections.
I understood too well what it all meant, and ran
to the door to go out and follow-them, agitated and
partially frightened with the usual terror \V hich rest­
ed on my heart, but at the same time animated by
the song of death, for it was the Priest who was
thus singing his own Libera, and the poor peasant
stepped along quickly by his side, looking, as may
be supposed, very serious, but without the least
appearance of fear. The impression on my mind
is that the soldiers, who generally followed their
prisoners with jokes and abuse, accompanied these
two in silence .
. I crossed the square, following close upon their
footsteps. At the turn of the street the good Priest
had finished the Libera, and commenced singing the
Miserere, The peasant, if I remember rightly, was
also busy at his prayers, but I do not recollect the
appearance of his countenance as dis tinctly as that
of the priest, who was apparently about 50 years of
age, of middling stature, and who was dressed, as I


J 40 lVlemoirs o/ tlze Rt. Reverend
have said, in the short, coarse) brown coat of the
peasants.
They moved along with great rapidity, so much
so that, although I left them at the end of the
street, when they had but one short street to pass
through to reach the pu blic walk, where I dared not
follow them and be present, I had hardly reached our
house when I heard the report of the guns simulta­
neously, as if but one, and their victims were in
eternity. I immediately entered the house, and
hastened to relate what I seen to my mother, and
her friend Mademoiselle Chateaugiron, who was with
her. My mother immediately said, "vVe know it
all; we were praying for them." I remember my
mother's look at that moment-such a mingled look
of sorrow and firmness-and that immediately
afterwards all the family went about their ordinary
family affairs, as if nothing particular had happened;
and so it was, for death was a dai}y tale.
The only circumstance at all peculiar in this case
was their permitting him to sing the office for the­
dead as he hurried along, and the early hour at
which the execution took place. It may be that
they had been tried late at night, and the command­
ing officer wished, for some reason or other; to de­
prive the public of their usual little excitement, or,
what is more probable, was utterly indifferent about
it, and thought it just as well to dispatch them at
that early hour as at a more busy time of the day.


142 Memo'Ïrs Of the Rt. Reverend
to the family, was discovered by the Revolutionary
�
agents concealed in a small building or garden
house, in no manner connected with the castle, and
in which any fugitive might have taken refuge with­
out the knowledge of the family.
The' Marquis and Marchioness were, however,
arrested at the same time with the Priest, and
brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal. The
months and a half, when, on account of the violence of the persecution,
the number of Priests that were put to death, and the consequent need of
those who remained faithful to their religion, he, like many others, would
not remain in security any longer, but returned to France, to afford all the
succor that was in his power. The first time that he attempted to return
he was driven back by a storm, but about a fortnight after, having found
another opportunity, he embarked again and reached the coast of France.
From this moment until arrested he was never idle; his labors were not
confined to his Parish, but he wandered about in disguise amongst the
neighbouring Parishes, hearing confessions and administering to the sick.
He had been seen to administer the sacrament to a sick person, when about
10 o'clock in the evening he arrived at the château of M. de Bedée, to hear
confessions. After having finished, he retired to the garden house to spend
the rest of the night. He had been watched, however, and was denounced
to the authorities. M. de Bedêe , hearing: the noise made by the gens­
darmes, jumped out of the window to give warning to the Priest. They
were both arrested, as related above, ano a few days afterwards Madame
Bedée.
Father Carron does not mention the scene before the tribunal, but gives
an extract from a letter which M. de Bedée wrote to his son before his
death, in which he exhorts him to be faithful to his religion. ""\Vhen you
receive this letter you will have neither father, nor mother, nor tutor.
They will take your property also. The grace of God will remain with
you. Be faithful to it."
When they approached the guillotine, M. Tostivint mounted first, before
M. Chilon, a Priest of Romillé, and M. and Madame Bedée; but perceiv­
ing the agitation of these last at the sight of the instrument of death, he
requested permission to die last, and having consoled and assisted his
friends in their death, he gently submitted to his fate. He was 39 years
of age.


Simon William Gabriel Bruté. 143
Priest was, of cou-rse, immediately condemned to
death. The Marquis, on being questioned, natu­
rally remarked that the hut or shed in which Mr.
Tostivint had been found was open to anyone who
saw fit to enter it, and the Priest being there did
not bring them within the provisions of the law
against those who gave asylum to ecclesiastics.
But such pleas were of no avail in those times.
The Marquis and his wife belonged to an ancient
and noble family, and as such were obnoxious to
those in power. They were, accordingly, con­
demned to suffer death at the same time with the
Priest.
As soon as the sentence was pronounced, M. de:
Bedée turned toward the Marchioness and said to
her, in a quiet, dignified tone of voice, "We have
lived happily together forty years, madam, and it is
the will of God that we should not be separated
now." Madame de Bedée was seen and. heard im­
mediately to give á ready and courageous assent.
The words I do not remember, nor was I present
when M. de Bedée thus spoke to her, but I heard
the whole scene described immediately after it took
place, as most striking and affecting, particularly,.
they said, on account of the simple but at the same
time noble and generous manner with which the
Marquis, who was a person of truly dignified man­
ner, addressed the Marchioness before the very
tribunal.


I 44 Me�72oirs of tlze Rt. Reverend
The Rev. Mr. Tostivint was 'hardly forty years
of age. I had his nephew in my class of theology
when I taught in the Seminary of Rennes. I re­
gret that I have not more particulars in regard to
him-" My good Uncle," as the young man always
called him, speaking to me about his death. Oh !
how happy that "good Uncle" was, as I used to
think when we spoke of him, thus to die for his re­
ligion.
Rev. Mr. Sacquet, Rector o/ St. M artin, at Rennes.
The Rev. Mr. Sacquet, Rector of St. Martin, one
of the Parishes of Rennes; was of a tall stature,
with a countenance full of dignity and benevolence.
He was at this time about 55 years of age, and hav­
ing been for rnany years the faithful Rector of one
of the most populous parishes of the city, consist­
ing of from two to three thousand of the poorest
inhabitants in the suburb of the same name," (St.
Martin,) he had long enjoyed the love and venera­
tion of his Parishioners, and the esteem of the
. whole city.
At the outbreak of the Revolution, Mr. Sacquet
had refused to take the oaths, and I think had been
exiled to England, from whence he returned and
16 I am not sure of the extent of his Parish, between those of Sto John,
St. Stephen, and St. Lawrence.


Simon IFz'll£am Gabriel Bruté. I45
Iiv ed in concealment in that part of the' country
which was nearest to his Parish, or rather within its
precincts, for, as was known at my mother's, his
usual hiding place was in a spot near the last house
of the suburb. Late one evening a report reached
our house that" Mr. Sacquet had been denounced,'
and that they were making strict search for his per­
son in the suburb and adjoining parts." Of course,
all of us were in the greatest anxiety, and passed a
sleepless night in lamentations over those dreadful
times and fervent prayers for his escape, the fre­
quent and usual occupation of such hours during
those days and nights of misery. The least noise
in the street startled us. I remember, however,
there were often mixed with these natural fears and
regrets a sense and expressions of his happiness if
he was taken, in thus suffering for his religion­
sometimes ejaculations: "Oh! my Lord, if they
cannot find him." "Oh! if you would be pleased
to spare him to us." " Alas! our country is too
much disgraced by such a deluge of crimes." "All
religion will soon be taken from us." But
morning came, and the first news was "He is
taken." At 4 o'clock, early this morning, did they
find him in à. field of wheat which they had com­
p1.etely surrounded, and then searching diligently
every part, they found him. He has, of course, re­
fused to name the person who had previously given
him an asylum, having chosen to go out into the


146 Afemoirs of the Rt. Reuerend
open fields rather than to remain hidden 111 the
house which was denounced yesterday, and which
he left as soon as he was told that the persecu tors
were coming.
He was brought before the tribunal in the after­
noon of the same day, and had a very short inter­
rogatory to undergo-only sufficient to identify his
person, which, besides, was familiarly known to
everyone in the city, and to none better than to
the Judges 011 the Bench. I was present at the
examination, but do not remember any particular
question or answer. His whole appearance, how­
ever-his features, the expression of his counte­
nance, such an indescribable mixture of dignity and
self-possession, and mildness-is as present to me
at this moment as it was then. I can hear the
sound of his voice now) as, slowly, calmly, and with
a certain quiet self-possession, he gave the short
answers which the questions required. I remem­
ber that all present were impressed by the scene,
and there was much more decorum than usual,
both in the tribunal and amongst the spectators.
N ei ther can I recall the charge and sen ten ce o f the
Judge; my impression is, that his words and man­
ner were softened by the common influence of that
countenance, of which so many said afterwards " it
seemed as if it was our Lord during His passion,"
and others, "he was like a lamb before so many
ravening wolves."


Simo« Wilham Gabriel Bruté. 147
After the sentence of death had been passed, it
was found that the executioner, contrary to his
usual custom, was absent. They were obliged to
wait half an hour or more before he came, and
then, with great brutality and affected hurry, he
began to strip the venerable confessor and prepare
him immediately for the scaffold, rudely cutting off
his hair and cutting away the collar of his shirt, to
leave his neck bare for the axe, tying his hands
behind his back, and then throwing his coat loosely
over his shoulders. I saw him passing along the
corridors of the Court House (Palais de Justice) on
his way to the guillotine, which was but two hun­
dred steps off; his person was tall, of rather a full
•
habit and very strong constitution. The cruel
execu tioner, in so hastily preparing him for the
scaffold, had wounded him in the neck, and the
blood was running down his breast, but as he
passed along to the place of execution no other
words could so well express his tranq uillity and
composure than by saying that he looked at that
moment as he used to look when following the
processions of the people of his Parish, on the
solemn festivals of the Church. But though I fol­
lowed him so near, I dared not go and witness
the exact moment of his blessed departure from
such a world of sin and misery.17
17 M. Carron, voleiii. p. 203, gives an account of the life and martyrclom
of Mr. Sacquet. His Christian name was Francis Julien, born in the


148 lJ:femoirs of the Rt. Reverend
The Rev. lIIr. Poirier, the Rev. llIr. Emery, and four
other Priests put to deat/: at ROl1lcS ill I ï96.
One day five Priests were tried and sentenced,
and executed together.18 I remember the names
of only two of them, Mr. Emery and Mr. Poirier.
I was acquainted with Mr. Emery, a small, thin
man, but strong and energetic in heart and mind.
When the persecution was most severe, and many
were being sacrificed to its fury, he never relaxed
Parish of All Saints, at Rennes, 22d Aug., 1730. He enjoyed a high
reputation, not only on account of his eminent virtues, but as a most
instructive and touching Preacher. He was naturally of a timid disposi­
tion, but Grace gave him strength and fortitude. When the law of depor­
tation was passed, he hid himself, as related tlbove, within the precincts
of his parish, and continued to afford the consolations of religion to his
people until arrested. The name of the person who concealed him was
John Leméc, a peasant. M. Carron relates that during his trial and exe­
cution he manifested the - greatest composure and fortitude, and -as he
placed his head under the fatal axe he repeated one of the verses of the
Ps. A.fúerere-Benigne fac Domine, etc. "Deal favourably, O Lord, in
thy good will with. Sion, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up."
He was put to death I4th Aug., 1794.
18 According to Tresvaux, vol. ii. p. 24, there were but four executed at
this time: the two mentioned in the text; Mr. Gautier, Vicaire of Bruc, in
the Diocese of St. Malo, of whose arrest and death so interesting an
account is given hereafter, and Mr. Crosson, of the Diocese of Rennes.
Mr. Emery was a native of La Chapelle Bouéxie, where Bp. Bruté's sister
resided, and where he met him as mentioned in the narrative. He intoned
the Te Deum on mounting the scaffold. They were put to death on the
day of a Fair, and in the midst of the assemblage; but the country people
left the place. M. Poirier belonged to one of the most respectable and
wealthy families of Miniac-sous-Bécherel. The National Guard who
arrested him were disposed to let him go, but they were dissuaded by an
inhabitant of his native place, who was among them. M. Poirier's last
injunctions to his family at Bécherel were to pardon the man who had
been the cause of his arrest and death.


I 50 Mmzoirs oj the Rt. Rcvcreud ;
the alarm in case of any approaching danger Iroru
the Republicans, or Blues, as they were called. A
short time before he was arrested I was 011 a visit
to my sister, at La Chapelle Bouéxie, about 20
miles from Rennes, a very wild and romantic part
of the country, and having accompanied her hus­
band, who went out shooting, we suddenly came,
on turning a corner of the road, upon three men
dressed as peasants, and on accosting them we
discovered that it was Mr. Emery and two other
Priests. My brother-in-law expostulated with Mr.
Emery and his companions very strongly on their
imprudence in thus exposing themselves in the
open day. The remotest Parishes were no safer at
that time than those near to the cities; the whole
country swarmed with Gendarmes, spies, and Con­
tre-Chouans, as they were called-that is, persons
who dressed themselves like the Insurgents, the
better to discover them. It is impossible now to
conceive of the earnestness with which they hunted
after denounced persons, and especially the Priests.
At that time the law of death within twenty-four
hours was still in force.
A few days after this meeting, Mr. Emery and
five other Priests were arrested and brought to­
gether before the" Criminal 'Court "HI at Rennes.
My mother saw them as they passed under our
19 Not the" Revolutionary Tribunal." The persecution oi the Priests
at that time came within the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts.


Simon TV£lliam Gabriel Brut«. 151
windows, on their way to the Tribunal. She was
struck, she said, by the remarkable appearance of
Mr. Poirier, a tall old man, with grey hair and most
dignified and heavenly countenance, and at that
moment she witnessed a circumstance which will
give, better than any long description, an idea of
the spirit of the times.
The Guillotine at Rennes, as in most other cities,
stood permanently erected upon the public square,
quite bloody, and sometimes with heads exposed
upon it. The Gendarmes, as they passed along
with their prisoners on their way to the Tribunal,
were accustomed to call their attention to it, and
make them look at the fatal scaffold which they
were so soon to ascend. "Look there," said one
of them to Mr. Poirier on this occasion, " take a
look at Madame Guillotine;" 20 the mob at the
same time crying out, as usual, " To the Guillotine
with them!" The venerable old man seemed to
take no notice of what he said, and did not turn
his face towards it, but walked along modestly with
the others. The Gendarme, offended, 110 doubt, at
his composure and disregard of his order, imme­
diately struck him a severe blow in the face, saying,
" Will you not look there when I tell you ? You
will soon be there yourself." "I see it," answered
20. The Guillotine afforded a constant subject for jests and ribaldry; it
was called" Madame ., and other names. A person who was about to be
executed was said to be about "to marry Madame Guillotine," &c.


SÙ1Z0JZ "YVilliam Gabriel Bruté. 153
The Rector of GUigllC1Z and Ms Vicar
The Rector of Guignen,21 a venerable old man,
and his Vicar, had been a short time before guillo­
tined in the city of Rennes, when I went to see my
sister, Madame ] unsions, who lived at "La Cha­
pelle Bouéxie," a short distance from Guignen ;
and she then related to me the following incidents
of the capture of these two victims:
They had been warned of the search that was
being made for them, and attempted to escape
through the fields, when they were perceived by
those in pursuit of them .. They were, however, a
.considerable distance ahead, and the Vicar, who
was much the youngest and more active, might
easily have escaped. They gained, however, upon
the old Priest, firing their guns at him as they pur­
sued him. The Vicar had crossed a brook and
ascended the opposite bank, and was out of the
, reach of his pursuers, when, looking back, he per­
ceived that the aged Rector was unable to get up
the steep ascent. His pursuers were shouting with
joy at his unavailing efforts. The young man im­
mediately turned back, to the surprise of the sol­
diers, who could not but admire his heroic charity,
and endeavoured to assist the good old Parish Priest.
He descended the bank, recrossed the brook, and,
21 Am not certain in regard to the Parish, whether Guipry, Guichen, or
Guignen, but the facts were as here related.-1Yote by Bj. Bruté.





Simon Wl'llz"am Gabriel Bruté. ISS
The Rev. lI/r. Clement, tite Rev. Mr. Cassou, t/te
Rev. sr-. Ra71gervé.
The Rev. Mr. Clement 22 was the name of a good
old Priest who remained concealed in Rennes dur­
ing the worst of the persecution, venturing out in
disguise, however, often at night, to visit the sick
and others who needed him. One night he was
obliged to pass near the' box of one of the sentries,
who hailed him with the usual " Qui vive," "vVho
goes there?" If he had returned immediately and
resolutely the usual answer, "Citizen," he would,
in all probability, have been allowed to pass by
unmolested, but a sort of ill-judged and ill-timed
scruple seized him, as he related afterwards when
in prison, and he hesitated to answer by a word
which, in the sense they used it in those times as
designating one who was friendly to the present
order of things, seemed to him to be a lie. He,
therefore, made a vague answer, and attempted to
22 :M. René Clement, according to Tresvaux, vol. ii. p. 19, was a native
of Rennes, and Vicaire of Brielles. At the time that Le Coz, the Consti­
tutional Bishop, took possession of Rennes, Monseigneur De Goiac having
been driven into exile, he published a pastoral letter, which the Mayor of
Brielles obliged M. Clement to read from the pulpit. He did so, but at
the same tinie made a running commentary upon it, pointing out the
opposition between its principles and those of the Catholic Church. For
this he was fined and imprisoned. While imprisoned he published a
pamphlet, in which, with great talent and sharpness, he refuted the
sophistries of the intruded Bishop. Having escaped from prison, he went
to Rennes. Each week he made a tour in the surrounding country, visit­
ing the sick, administering the sacraments, &c. He was put to death on
the 5th of April, 1794-, aged about 3Cl years.


S£m01Z lVilHam Gabriel Bruté. 157
leave this world by so happy a death, anù I can
easily believe it from my remembrance of the dis­
positions and feelings of fervent Catholics in thosë
times.
The Rev. Mr. Rangervé 23 was the Rector of Sto
Saviour's, one of the Parishes of Rennes. He was
arrested in the country about 35 miles from
Rennes, in. company with two brothers La Bigo­
tière, and a Mr. Du Plessis of the Royal army. Mr.
Du Plessis had his thigh broken by a bullet, and was
carried to the Tribunal seated in a chair. They
were all condemned to death. The Abbé Ran­
gervé was a man of very commanding appearance
and polished manner .. At his trial he seemed to
23 It appears from Mr. Carron's account, vol. i. p. 551, that the family
name was Rolland, and that the name by which he was known and men­
tioned in the above sketch was taken, according to the customs of those
times, from a Seigniory belonging to his family. He was born in the
Château of Roches-Martinois, within the limits of the Diocese of St. Malo,
on the çth of July, 1756. He made his studies in the College of Rennes,
and when ordained Priest was first Vicaire in the Parishes of All Saints,
and afterwards in St. Hélier's, and finally in St. Saviour's. When the
Revolution broke out he took refuge in the Island of Jersey. He afterwards
returned to France, in company with several gentlemen of Brittany, Mes­
sieurs de la Tremouille, De la Bigotière, Du Plessis, and was arrested at
the Château of la Bigotière, having been denounced by the Farmer who
superintended the Estate. Mr. Carron makes no mention of the circum­
stances related by Bp. Bruté, but says that a friend endeavoured to save
him by declaring before the Tribunal that he had taken the" civil oath,"
as it was called. When, however, the Judge asked the Abbé Rangervé if
this was so, he answered that it was not, that he had" never taken It, and
never would." They circulated a report, he adds, which does not take
away from the value of his sacrifice, but which, in reality, increases it, that
he was unconscious at the moment of his death. He was guillotined with
MM. De la Bigotière and M. Du Plessis, the t Sth Dec., 1793.


I S8 JEemoÍ1/'s of the Rt. Revermd
hope chat he would be spared, and gave evidence
that he was much attached to life, making explana­
lions and apologies which were strikingly in con­
trast with the spirit usually exhibited by his bro ...
ther Priests. N ot.hing could be more edifying,
more worthy of their holy office than their modest
courage, calm resignation, and perfect serenity,
made the more impressive by the turbulent and
brutal conduct of their persecutors.
But in Mr. Rangervé's case, I remember, we
were disappointed at what seemed a degree of
weakness-accustomed as we were to see the vic­
tims act as if they felt it to be an honour to suffer
in so great and glorious a cause as that of Religion
-and consequently like the Indians and Iroquois,
in regard to their braves, to expect that everyone
called to the honour of dying for his Faith would
behave in every respect worthy of his exalted prin ..
ciples, his ancestors, the martyrs of old, and his
Brethren who had already been called upon, or who
would be called upon, to make" the same good
confession."
Poor Mr. Rangervé did not, however, in any
manner betray his duty to his God, except by this
degree of weakness and natural anxiety for life.
When condemned he resumed all his composure,
and manifested, as I was told, on the scaffold the
same firmness and dignity of bearing w hieh graced
so uniformly his brethren through the whole trial.


S imo» TFilliam Gabriel Bruté. 159
Tite Dcatll of Rn.'. Mr. Le llIoine, Priest of tIle Dio­
cese of St. lIfa/o.
The Rev. Mr. Le Moine was a very respectable
and pious Priest, who exercised the holy ministry
in the Parishes of Maure and La Chapelle Bouéxie,
which last place was, as I have already stated, the
residence of one of my Sisters. She went to con­
fession to him, and when it was possible assisted at
the Holy Sacrifice, at the Farm Houses in the re­
moter parts of the country. I often heard her
speak of him as a very holy man, who preserved in
the midst of all the horrors and confusion of those
days a most calm and recollected mind. His death
was accompanied with many atrocities. The cir­
cumstances were as follows, though stated only in
substance; she could not, after all her inquiries,
obtain any fuller details.
Having been arrested by a party of the Revolu­
tionists who were scouring that part of the country,
they at first intended to take him a prisoner to
Rennes. When, however, they had gone four or
five miles on the way, and were passing along the
levée or dike which confines the waters of a large
pond, or lake, near the beautiful country seat of
La Masse, in the Parish of Baulon, some of the
soldiers suggested that it would be better to dis­
patch him at once. A few of them were opposed
to shedding his blood with their own hands. The


160 lJIemoirs of the Rt. Reverend
more ferocious, however, prevailed, and they began
to hack him to pieces with their sabres, some at
the same time piercing him with their bayonets, so
that he was soon dead.
These were all the circumstances I remember of
which my Sister told me at the time, bewailing
with a flood of tears the fate of her good Pastor.
" Oh! my Brother,2'1 what an excellent man Mr.
Le Moine was," I remember she said.
I was in Rennes at the time this murder occur­
red, and we heard of it a few days after when the
party of Soldiers returned to the city. I happened
to hear one of them, myself, expressing his regret
at what had occurred', though he was one of those
24 I am inclined to think from the detailed relation of Tresvaux, vol. I.
p. 447, that Bishop Bruté has confounded Mr. Le Moine, Vicaire of Con­
cale, with ML Barré, Priest at Mause. They both belonged to the same
Diocese, and were arrested at the same time at La Chapelle Bouéxie.
Having been warned of the approach of the soldiers, they fled to the
woods, but Mr. Le Moine, who had been wounded in the shoulder by a
ball, was obliged to stop. Mr. Barré might have escaped, but would not
desert his wounded friend. They were conducted by the' Gendarmes in
different directions. According to Mr. Tresvaux, those who had charge
of Mr. Le Moine arrested a man named Morrin, who lived near the Châ­
teau de la Mace, and having found a Catechism and Rosary in his posses­
sion, which in those days were as good as a death-warrant, they led them
both into the woods called the" Bois de la Grande-Fontaine," and digging
a hole, they shot them on the spot, and buried them in it. A man who
met the party, in charge of Mr. Barré, told the Gendarmes that he was a
Farmer in his vicinity, but when they appealed to Mr. Barré to know if it
was so, he would not tell a lie to save his life, but openly declared that he
was a Priest. He was hacked to pieces by the Soldiers, literally piece­
meal, with the most revolting cruelty, and they afterwards carried parts of
his body through the town on the points of their bayonets.


162 klemo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
as if afraid to violate the inj II nction of forgiveness
which their dying Pastor had imposed upon them.
He was betrayed in his hiding place during the
terrors of 1793-94. The zealous and faithful friend
who had concealed him attempted to resist his
pursuers, and received a thrust of a sabre which
caused all his bowels to fall out, and when convey­
€d away in company with Mr. Gautier he was un­
able to walk, and the Soldiers, having dragged him
along for sorne distance in this state, "vere obliged
to procure a cart in which they placed them. The
Priest supported his poor friend across his knees,
and in this manner heard his confession and pre­
pared him for death. I n this way they, proceeded
through the village of .St. James, which is situated
between Brutz and Rennes, the Soldiers marching
on each side of the cart. How often in retracing
their steps years afterwards has that scene come up
before my mind's eye. Whilst passing through St.
J ames the poor wounded man drew near his end,
and Mr. Gautier informed the Soldiers of the fact,
�nd entreated them to stop that 'he might die more
quietly. His words touched their hard hearts, and
they stopped the cart. Then Mr. Gautier drew
forth his Ritual and ,the Holy Oils which he had
with him, and there in the cart in the middle of
the road, surrounded by those who were carrying
him to death, he administereù to the poor dying
friend who had lost his life in endeavouring to save








164 111cmoirs 0.1 tite Rt. Reverend
death for those wh o had denounced him and made
known his hiding place to the authorities. I re­
member perfectly well that the day after he was
guillotined, and received his crown of glory, the
good Sisters of Charity, who were still permitted to
serve the prisons, so difficult was it to find anyone
to replace them, sent to my mother a copy of ML
Gautier's last testament or address to his parishion­
ers, written the evening before his death. I had it a
long time in my possession, but some way or other
it has been löst. I remember how we often shed
tears over it as we read those words of charity and
faith and zeal for the cause of �eligion, then assailed
with such desperate fury. He himself so calm, so
happy to leave a world deluged with crimes, but so
anxious for those he left behind him. I remember
the solicitude of the good pastor and tender father,
so sensible of the increasing danger of the times for
the faith and piety of his flock. He insisted most
on this point, and made appropriate exhortations to
each class of his people-the aged, the married, the
youths, the children, and at the conclusion several
lines were taken up with the most fervent entreat­
ies and solemn charges to forgiveness, urging on
them the precept of our divine Lord, his own free
and full pardon being expressed in the most affect­
ing manner. Unfortunate d enunciators ! how must
.they have felt when these exhortations of their be­
trayed and murdered pastor came to their know-


Sim01Z Wz'llz'am Gabriel Brtit«. 165
ledge; for they must have heard of them, perhaps
read them, for many copies were made and passed
from hand to hand. And those of them also who
survived those days of delirium, and who saw that
religion which they hoped to root out rising in
new majesty amidst the ruins of her desolate sanc­
tuaries, and the bleaching bones of her holy mar­
tyrs-so much folly and barbarity, all useless, and
they, as was often the case, obliged to seek an es­
cape. from the pangs of remorse at the feet of the
successors of their victims. I remern ber a very
striking case of this in the very Parish of Bru tz of
which Mr. Gautier 25 was the Vicar. The school-
25 Father Carron, vol. iv, p. 44, mentions that M. Gautier was a native
of the village of Calais, in the Parish of Forrè, and was born the 24th. of
March, 1764. After his ordination he was appointed Vicar of Brutz, and
did not leave his Parish during the revolution, but remained in conceal­
ment, spending his nights i� visiting his parishioners and administering to
their wants. He was arrested in the park of the Château of Cicé. The
young man who so generously sacrificed his life in endeavouring to pro­
teet M. Gautier was named Robloit.
Father Carron also gives a copy of M. Gautierls will, as follows:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
I, Julien Paul René Gautier, during the last seven days confined in the
prison near the Partes Saint Michel, at Rennes, and convinced that the
end of my life is approaching, think it proper to leave in writing a few
works expressive of my last wishes.
I request those who have anything belonging to me in their possession
to send half of it to my dear mother as soon as they conveniently can, and
to give the other half in charity to the poor, and to those who will pray to
God for me, and for my relatives living and dead. But let no one who has
in his possession anything belonging to me trouble himself about the
matter. I do not intend to impose any burthen on their consciences; they
will do the best they can, and that is enough. Iu distributing .anything


Sinto//, IVi/Ùam Gabriel Bruté. 167
assist M. Massiot, in 1809, I noticed his still clear
and pleasing voice as he sang in the choir, and
afterwards M. lVIassiot said to me, " Did yOll notice
that old man who led the choir? He was one of
the 'Bonnets Rouge' here, an infuriated Jacobin,
and now, thanks be to the mercy of God, one of my
best parishioners-so penitent a sinner, so humble
and distressed at the remembrance of those days,
although I never allude to it, and all instinctively
avoid saying anything in his presence which may
wound his feelings."
is a dreadful delusion to put off one's conversion to the hour of death.
May God's holy name be praised, and may my sins be washed away in my
blood!
I pray for those who are about to put me to death. I pardon, from the
bottom of my heart, those who caused me to be arrested. I know them,
but I will not name them. If hereafter you find out who they were, re­
member that it is my injunction that you do them no harm. 1 sincerely
thank those who have done favours to me-may the good God reward
them!
In conclusion, I recommend to God all my parishioners, who are so dear
to me. 1 recommend to them my beloved mother. Let her remember
that she brought me up for God, not for herself. Also, my brother, my
sister, my nephews and nieces. 1 exhort them to live together in the
closest friendship, and not to allow the love of earthly things to cause
them to forget eternal things.
1 had forgotten to recommend to your prayers him who lost his life in
endeavouring to save mine-may his soul rest in peace !
Be strong in the Faith. I die innocent, but I die in the Holy Catholic
Apostolic and Roman Religion, of which I have been an unworthy minis­
ter. I have a thousand things to say to you, but have no more time.
JULIEN GAUTIER,
Curé of Brutz,
r ath July, 1794.


163 jJ£emoirs of the Rt. Reverend
Ml'. Massiot had himself been a confessor of the
Faith, and an exile in those days, as I have noticed
in the account of Mr. Touchet, whose Vicaire he
was at St. Hélier.
Banisùment of Mr, Driaùrc,
One day a young man of the most pleasing and
prepossessing countenance, full of candour and
modesty, was recommended to my Mother by a
friend as.a Priest from the Department of Calva­
dos (Caen), who, having been too closely hunted in
his own country, had sought for rest and better se­
curity in our city. I of course became acquainted
with him, and soon very intimate. Good Mr. De­
laitre, how pleasing the hours and days we spent to- .
gether! We studied together and then stole out
into the country and roamed about, his tender
.. piety making use of everything to turn towards
God. I see his countenance now, as, full of enthu­
siasm and divine charity, he expressed to me his
love for Religion and his willingness to suffer for it,
although the attachment and anxiety of his friends
made him take precautions. The persecution be­
ing still severe in the city, he left it and went to my
Sister's, at La Chapelle Bouéxie. After a while,
when the Law of Death for the Priests was chang­
ed into that of Banishment to the pestilential coast


SimoJl, vVilliam Gabr/el Bruté. 169
of Cayenne, he returned to Rennes and lived with
Mr. Petysain, a pious merchant, passing as his
Clerk. One day, however, as he was crossing the
public square, a Spy from his 0\,'11 department re­
cognized him and bade him follow him to the M u­
nicipality; from the Municipality he went to pri­
son, and from the prison, where I often visited him
and passed many pleasant moments, he was soon
after sent to his doom on the pestilential lands of
Cayenne. The morning of their departure I was
awakened about 4 o'clock by a rap at the door. A
poor countrywoman ran from the market, which
was near the prison, to my Mother. "Oh! Mad­
ame Bruté, those good Priests are starting from St.
Michael's (the name of the prison); fhe order has
been given suddenly last night; they are all in the
cart already." I ran there as quickly as I could;
they were just leaving. I approached as near as I
could; they were in an open wagon, seated on their
trunks, surrounded by mounted Gendarmes; my
dear Mr. Delaitre, with his serene and impressive
countenance as usual. When he saw me he waved
his hand toward me, raising up his eyes to heaven
and his other hand, saying merely, "Deo Gratias,
Deo Gratias," "Thanks be to God," and the cart
moved on.
After a few months we heard that his health had
yielded to the effects of the climate, and that he
had left the land of his double exile fo r t ha t better


170 1]JC1IZJÙ'S 0./ tltc Rt. Revcrc1t,d
country where" the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are at rest."
Mr. Martien, or .Martineau, a Brother of th« C/lrz's­
tian School of Mr. La Salle.
As I have mentioned, I usually went to the" Crim­
inal Court," where the Priests were generally tried,
but on one occasion I went to the" Military Tribu­
nal," and was at the trial and condemnation of a
Christian Brother. I have not a very distinct re­
membrance of the circumstances, though I can still
see the tall, spare form of Mr. Martien, and hear his
voice as he pleaded in vain before his persecutors.
The trial took place in the evening, and the Presi­
dent of the C�L1rt was a kind of pl!ilosopher, who
made a great affectation of wisdom, and often
spoke at the club (Société Populaire). Several per­
sons were arraigned at the same time, for some pre­
tended conspiracy I think. Mr. Martien pleaded
in his defence that he was not a Priest or an Ec­
clesiastic, in any sense of the word; that, although
associated with others in a Religious Society, he
was but a school-master and nothing more-a
School-master devoted to the education of poor
children, which, if they were sincere in their pro-


172 jJ£emoirs of the Rt. Reverend
expressions which, in the secrecy of almost every
family, were uttered against the authors of so many
dreadful crimes and cruelties. "Speak not so," he
would say to his friends, when they gave vent to
their indignation and reproaches in his presence.
"Why so much anger? What harm can they do us
after all? The extreme effect of their rage will
only be to send us the sooner to our happiness, and
in the meanwhile they afford us continual occasions
of acquiring merit, if we will only be careful to
cherish in our souls the! spirit of patience and sin­
cere forgiveness. Do we not remember, and shall
we not imitate our blessed Lord, who was siien: in
the hands of his tormentors? Nay, good souls!
are not these unfortunate men, against whom you
manifest so much severity, objects of solicitude and
pity, rather than their victims P Think of the con­
dition of thC£r souls, in what horrid misery and
danger they are, and your anger will soon change
into compassion and tears of true charity. When
you meet a poor creature all covered with abomin­
able ulcers, is it anger you feel towards him?
Would you take u p a rod and strike the poor miser­
able object? Where is . .our faith, when we forget
the condition of the soul, the only just measure of
our feelings, if we are good Christians? God forbid
that we should f�rget the excellency of the graces
offered to us through them, and our only' sorrow
should be that these unhaPPY benefactors so far ex-


S£moJZ W£lliam Gabriel Bruté. 173
pose their own souls when they do but hasten ano
secure the bliss of ours. Pity! the most tendel'
pity for them is our duty; all the rest is wrong,
and faults of nature." Thus, or rather to this pur ...
pose, did that good and charitable Priest often
speak. He died not long after Robespierre, when
the persecution was greatly mitigated, yet still
fierce enough against the Clergy, especially if
caught in the exercise of their holy functions. To
the last there were plenty of opportunities afforded
them to practice good Father Kergaté's advice, and
it required much grace, and a strong sense of reli­
gion and charity, not to give way to imprecations
against such miscreants, committing all their atro­
cities also in the name of liberty and public virtue.
And yet Father Kergaté was right; and if we be
good Christians, we will forgive and pray for our per­
secutors. The prayer of St. Stephen, the old fathers
say, converted Saul. "Si martyr Stcphamts non
orasset, Ecclesia Palt/um hodie non haberet."
Two Brot/urs Condemned to Die together.
I remember being presen t one day when two bro­
thers were condemned to death as enemies of the
Republic., It was in 1793, during the height of the
terror. They were peasants," simple men of the
�7 It i; of tea supposed that only the higher classes-the nobles and


I 78 .illcmoz"rs of the Rt. Re'lJerend
ber of the most furious Jacobins were congregated
together, engaged ill a loud discussion. He saw
them, and though; according to his custom, he
made no effort to avoid them, yet he in tended to
go around them, when all at once, as he approach­
ed them, they opened the way for him right and
left, and, taking off their hats and caps, they per­
mitted him to pass through their ranks in silence,
bowing slightly to him; he himself silent and al­
most frightened at these signs of respect, if any- .
thing' could easily have moved his quiet and supe­
rior soul. The moment. he had passed, they them­
selves were surprised at what they had done
towards one whom, as they said, was "none of
ours." It was, in truth, the sudden, involuntary
acknowledgment of superior worth-the influence
of a long and justly enjoyed reputation overpower­
ing for a moment conscious vileness and wicked­
ness. Mr. Boisleve was attacked by his last sick­
ness in the height of the revolution, a short time
after the decree had been issued of death to any
Priest within twenty-four hours after being arrest­
ed. A friend, however, offered to procure him the'
assistance of a priest, in order that he might re­
ceive the last consoling and strengthening Sacra­
ment of the Church. "No, my friend," answered
Mr. Boisleve, " I have been a long time preparing"
for this moment; I will trust myself to God, and
will Ilot. expose any of his ministers to lose their


SùnÚ1l �Vlllla11Z Gabriel Bruté. I 79
lives on my account, when their services are so
m uch needed for others who have. neglected per­
haps to prepare for death." It was an heroic act
of self-sacrifice in one of such ardent faith, who had
such love and veneration above all for the Blessed
Sacrament, thus to resign it at that moment; and
so he died, as he had lived, the model of a fervent
Christian. My mother knew him very intimately
�nd revered l�im as a saint. He had been of great
service to her, after my father's death. <, It is the
more pleasing to recall his virtues, because so many
who belonged to 'his profession acted differently in
those days of madness."
The Countesses de Renac and tIte Rev. Mr. Maree/zal.
Two sisters, the Countesses de Renac, unmarried
ladies, between thirty and forty years of age, lived
together in a handsome little hotel, facing the pu b­
lie promenade, called La Motte à Madame, in the
city of Rennes. My mother was accustomed to
take her morning walk there, and a few clays before
the events which I am about to relate one of the
ladies beckoned to her to come near the house, 'and
29 The bitterest and most blood-thirsty actors in the French Revolution
had been lawyers-Robespierre, Danton, Carrier, Couthon, &c. It should
be remembered, however, for the honour of human nature, that Male­
sherbes, Trouchet, and Décaze belonged to the same profession.


I 80 �femJù' s 0.1 the Rt. Rcverelld
said to her: te Madame Bruté, would you like to as­
sist at Mass to-day?" To be present at the holy
Sacrifice was at that time an inestimable privilege,
so long and generally had Catholics been deprived
of it by the terrible persecution of those days, which
had then become more severe on account of the de­
cree lately put forth, and to which I have alluded in
the previous sketcl�, imposing the" penalty of death
upon those who lodged a Priest, and the Priest him­
self, within twenty-four hours after th�ir arrest."
My mother, on account of these circumstances,
declined to be present, and earnestly entreated them
to be more cautious at such a fatal period, when
they ought to be too happy if they could save the
life of the Priest, and their own.
The Priest whom they had concealed in their ho­
tel was the Rev. Mr. Marechal, a young, fervent,
and well-informed man, about 35 years of age.
A few days after that but too much needed cau­
tion, for these good and zealous ladies, as well as
the Priest himself, were too imprudent, their house
was denounced to the authorities as certainly liar­
bouriug some of the devoted victims.
Valeray, one of the most active and blood-thirsty
agents of the Revolutionary Committees, and who
alone had made almost half of all the arrests which
had taken place, was appointed to make the search.
He had received information that the Priest there
concealed was M. Marechal, who- had been his


Simon Wiliian: Gabriel Bruté. 181
school-mate and particular friend; the information
was, in fact, so precise as to leave no doubt that he
was in the Hotel. Valeray consequently went
thither with some of his most active and trusty men,
and made a most careful examination of the whole
house, and yet after spending hours at the work,
hunting over and over every corner from the cellar
to the garret, nothing was found. The ladies were
present, composed and on their guard against every
cunning request or question.
At length Valeray, finding that he was likely to
be defeated in his purpose, took the ladies aside, and
said to them with consummate hypocrisy: " You
see, Ladies, the ardour of my men; the denunciation
is so positive that we have no doubt that Mr. Mare­
chal is here. He will assuredly be discovered; I am
most willing and anxious that he may escape, but
without exposing myself; I am obliged to fulfil my
commission - and urge my men to a more exact and
diligent search; there is but one chance for him,
Ladies, and that is for you to tell me \V here the poor
fellow is concealed-myoId friend, myoId school­
mate-so hard for me this duty! If you will tell me
where it is, I will keep my men away from that par­
ticular spot."
The two ladies looked at one another; the mo­
ment of hesitation was remarked by Valeray. He
insisted now more earnestly, with the most fervent
protestations of his now settled purpose to save Mr.


182 .lVIemoirs oj'the Rt. Reverend
Marechal, if they would but trust him so far, for his
unfortunate friend, whose discovery would also be
the doom of two ladies so much respected in the
.city, so m uch to be pitied. One of the ladies looked
anxiously at the ot h er, and by the expression of her
countenance seemed to ask the other if they ought
not to seize upon this chance cf better security.
The other, less trusting, answered by a forbidding
and warning look; but the more confiding heart of
her sister could not resist the eager entreaties of the
man, and she pointed out to him the place of Mr.
Marcchal's concealment, which was no doubt behind
some of those double walls or ceilings the contri­
vance of which was carried to a great perfection in
those times. The persecutors were, however, sel­
dom foiled; they had so many ways of finding out
these hiding places." by measuring and sounding
with long iron rods and pikes every suspicious cor­
ner. N o sooner had the good lady given the de­
sired hint, than Valeray called out with joy to his
men to come and pull down the boards which con­
cealed his victim; and as soon as he perceived the
friend whom he had so wretchedly betrayed, he said
to him: ". I am sorry, my dear Marechal, that this
office has fallen to me, but the will of the nation
30 It is well known with how much ingenuity the Priests' hiding places
were contrived in the houses of the Catholic nobility and gentry in Eng­
land during the time of persecution .. Almost all the old Catholic manor­
houses boast of some such" Prophet's chamber in the wall."


Simot: lVi/Liam Gcùrie! Bruté. 183
must be carried out. vVe will S0011 see the last of
your caste; come and follow me."
They were all, of course, immediately hurried to
the Tribunal; the two noble ladies more afflicted
at the fate of their excellent friend, and the unfor­
tunate . manner in which his capture had been
brought about by their fatal confidence in the
promise of that wicked man, than afraid to suffer,
and receive the crown of Faith, of Charity, which
became for so many in those times an object of
envy and exalted desires.
What I have related so far is founded upon the
information given to me at the time. As to what
follows I was an ocular and hearing witness. As
soon as I heard of their having been carried before'
the Tribunal, I followed them there and took my
place close by the victims. The Priest was on one
side, and was first called upon to answer; the
ladies were seated on the opposite side. 'l�Your
name?" asked the President. "vVrite," said he,
actually dictating to the clerk of the. Tribunal,
"that my name is Marechal." The clerk having
written this down, the second question was put
as usual, "Your profession?" and Mr. Marechal
again dictated as if with the intention of preserving
his replies from misrepresentation : "Write a Ro­
man Catholic Apostolic Priest." The clerk turned
with impatience to the President, and asked if he
was obliged to write down this answer, -which the


184 Memoirs of the Rt. Reverend
citizen had dictated to him with so much coolness
and formality. The' President answered, "N o
matter, write it down as he spoke it. " Two or
three questions were then addressed to Mr. Mare­
chal, which I have forgotten. I remember, how­
ever, that he stated with great calmness and force
the principles which had caused him to refuse com­
pliance with the requisitions of the law in regard to
oaths, &c.; and that he manifested an uncommon
degree of self-possession, moderation, and polite­
ness d uring his short interrogatory.
The ladies were then called u pon to answer in
their turn.' U nfortunately, I cannot now recall to
mind the questions that were put to them, nor their
answers; though when I went horne from these
strange scenes I could, as I have said, relate every
word and circumstance. But although I cannot
now recall what was said to them, probably only
the ordinary questions, yet I can still see those two
respectable ladies, wearing black caps and mantles,
according. to the fashion of the city-both tall,
slender, pale, with mild and interesting countenan­
ces. The whole matter was, as usual, hurried over
in the most expeditious manner; the law being
clear and express, and allowing of no qualifications.
The sentence of death was passed upon Mr. Mare­
chal and the two ladies by the President of the
Tribunal, Bouassier." That unhappy man seemed
31 It would be very interestingto consult the Archives of the Tribunals


SÙ1Z07Z lYd�z'am Gabrùl Bruté. 185
to be affected on this occasion. He knew the
ladies well, and was conscious of all the inj u stice
and horror of the deed he was cgmmitting; his
countenance and voice became altered in the most
frightful manner. I can distinctly see him now, as
he appeared at that moment, and. can hear his
harsh, sad, angry voice. I remember that I pitied
him more than I did his victims.
While the sentence was being pronounced, one of
the sisters could not hear the awful word dca/Il.
She fainted, and, falling from her seat, lay senseless
upon the floor. Oh! what a sight, what a mo­
ment! All seemed affected. She was soon raised
up, assisted, if I remember well, by Mr. Marechal
and her sister, who united in this office with the
Gendarmes. What occurred after this moment,
until they left the court; is confused in my mind,
and I do not wish to record anything except what
I distinctly remember. They were soon led from
the Tribunal to the Guillotine, and there I could
never prevail upon myself to be present. I always
hastened from the Tribunal to relate all that had
occurred to the family and to other friends, tremb­
ling almost, whilst we mingled our tears together,
lest some one should enter, or some traitor should
of those times, if they have been preserved-both the minutes of the ex­
aminations in manuscript and the printed judiciary sentences, which were
posted on the walls throughout the city at each execti0n.-.JfS .. Note by
Bj. Bru!!.


188 lIfemoirs of the Rt. Reverend
to see one of our old friends-for instance; Father
Gaffard ? " Father Gaffard was a Carmelite, and
had been the schoolmate of both; he was a very
learned man, and noted for his moderation and
amiability in the discharge of his duties. "Oh,
yes," said the unfortunate dying man, "it would
afford me great happiness." The doctor imme­
diately went in search of Father Gaffard, and at
I I o'c. at night, if I remember rightly, the good
Father hastened with anxious joy to save, if possi­
ble, their former persecutor. What happiness for
any Priest, still more for ohe who had been his
friend in better days; but, oh ,! what a terrible
judgment of God, when he, who had so cruelly put
them to death, wail ted a Priest, he was not per­
mitted to have that blessing! His own son, who had
"been brought up by him in the school of Voltaire
and Rousseau, and who had been himself conspicu­
ous amongst the most infuriated Jacobins during
the horrid times of Rohespierre, stood in the way.
He received Father Gaffard with the most angry
countenance, told him that his father was a
better man than himself (the Priest) and needed
none of his assistance to die properly. Father
Gaffard pleaded in vain, and was not permitted
to enter. ,,-:o. Bouassier died that night. May his
desire have been received, and his victims have
enjoyed the happiness of meeting him in Hea­
'ven, for whom they had so often arid so fer-


Sz"m071 TF£lliam Gabrz"el Brulé. 189
vently poured forth their prayers with their very
blood!
The above -circumstances were related to me, at
the time, by those who had an opportunity of
knowing them, and I have no doubt of their
truth. 3�
Incidents connected wit/t tlze War in La Vendée.
There is not in history a greater contrast than
that presented between the Vendéans and their
oppressors. The one side is an exhibition of every­
thing that dignifies human nature, the other of
everything that degrades and debases it. A virtu­
ous and brave peasantry fighting for their altars.
and firesides without arms, and unacquainted with
military discipline, and yet overthrowing and driv­
ing back large and powerfu 1 armies, returning the
cruelties inflicted upon them by kindness when
victorious. Such is the picture presented by the
peasants of La Vendée. On the other hand, the
cruelties practised upon them is one of the darkest
shades in the dark picture of the French Revolu­
tion. �athelineau the virtuous peasant, who was
the first General of the Vendéans, and the infamous
:l Tresvaux, vol. ii, p. 108, relates the same circumstances in regard to
the death of Bouassíer, and says that they were told to him by very re­
spectable persons, as having been well known to everyone at the time.


19°
l1femoirs of the Rt. Reverend
Carrier, the author of the noyades at Nantes, may
stand as types of the two part ies."
In 1793 the National Convention, maddened ap­
parently by the successful resistance of the peasants
of La Vendée, ·issued a decree of desolation against
the province-the villages to be burned, the men
. put to death wherever found, and the women and
children to be removed into the interior of France.
Vast numbers passed through our city of Rennes
on the way to their place of banishment, and often
33 There are no brighter pages in the annals of heroism than those
which record the struggles of the. peasants of La Vendée, in defence of
their homes and their religion, against the revolutionary armies. Tho
insurrection commenced in Anjou, on the occasion of the conscription
(300,000 men· were demanded for the army). It originated with the
peasants themselves. "The unhappy peasants," says Madame De la
Rochejaquelin, "wounded in ev:erything that was dear to them, subjected
to a yoke which the happiness they had formerly enjoyed made them feel
still heavier, revolted at last, and chose for their leaders men in whom
they had placed. their confidence and their affection; The Gentlemen
and Parish Priests, proscribed and persecuted themselves, marched with
them and supported their courage� The insurrection began, from the im­
pulse of the moment, without plan, without concert, and almost without
hopes," and yet it took the whole power of Republican France to put it
down. Cathelineau, their first leader, was himself a peasant. Their
piety and moderation equalled their 'courage. At one time the insurgent
country was surrounded by 240,000 Republican troops. If the English
had coöperated with them at this time as they ought to have done! all the
long wars and waste of money which followed might have been avoided.
La Vendée, properly speaking, included a portion of Poitou! Anjou, and
the county of Nantes, known before the Revolution as the ,¡ Le pays du
Bocage." It was on the other side of the Loire from Brittany, with
which many persons confound it. Those who rose up against the Revo­
lution in Brittany were called Chouans. They manifested equal bravery,
but were not so humane as the Vendéans. The cruelties of the Revolu­
tionary leaders and soldiers excited them at length to a pretty severe ap­
plication of the lex taliorus,


Simon TVilliam Gabriel Bruté. 19 r
being obliged to halt for él short time, they were
billeted for lodgings amongst the various families
of the city. On one occasion él poor woman, her
two daughters and a servant maid, were sent to
our house, and permitted to rest themselves for a
few days before proceeding on their journey. Their
destination, if I remember rightly, was Caen, in the
ancient province of N ormandy. Poor indeed they
were; before leaving home they had seen the same
house which had so long sheltered them, and in
which they had enjoyed so many happy hours,
burnt to the ground-the fields spoiled and de-
. vastatecl-the husband and father fled to the Ven­
cléan army, and in all probability they were .never
to see him again, perhaps never hear of his fate.
The good wife was perhaps forty years of age, or
rather less-the picture of a fine healthy woman,
now worn out by fatigue and anxiety, soon to be
quite broken down by sorrow. The two daughters,
16 and 18, one taller than the mother, bearing in
their çou 11 tenances and all their con duct the evi­
dences of the virtuous. domestic training they had
received-so modest and 'retiring, and yet so cou�a­
geous, and so full of tender affection and respect
for their mother. The one that pleased me most,
however, was the strong, single-hearted servant
maid, so humble, so faithful, and yet so little con­
scious of her worth. The friend now-once evi .
.Ie nt ly the trusted and kindly treated servant at


SÙt201l Wz"llz'am Gabr£el Bruté. I93
even during the few days they stayed w itn us the
faithful servant endeavoured to find some work in
the city, in order to supp1y funds to assist the
family in their further wanderings. My mother
pitied and respected them, and did all that was in
her power to protect and aid them. It was the
more sad for them, for at the same time no less
than fourteen soldiers were billeted upon us-a
party of those very men who had j LIst been com­
mitting such horrors in La Vendée; and amidst
their riotings their chief occupation was to boast of
what they had done, taking pleasure apparently in
rehearsing their basest and most abominable deeds,
so that these poor Vendéan exiles, notwithstanding
all the care of my mother, were obliged, more or
less, to listen to these heart-rending details, and
to have their wounds opened afresh, for nothing
made these monsters worse than the sight of their
victims."
l/Ir. Jo)'aux aild tite Prince of Rieux .
•
Mr. Joyaux was the Intendant, as it was called,
01 the Château and domains of the Prince of Rieux,
34 Madame De la Rochejaquelin, (Memoir, p. 408, et seq.,) dwells with
grateful enthusiasm upon the generous hospitality with which the Breton
peasants and others sheltered the refugees from La Vendée. "Although
many of them," she says, "were put to death for having offered an asylum
to the Vendéans, this did not diminish the devoted attachment which men,
women, and even children, seemed to feel für us, nor cool their active lm­
manity :�


194 llfemoirs· of tite Rt. Reverend
about 50 miles from Rennes. The last t im c I saw
this excellent and most respectable man, the sha­
dow of death was hovering over him, and it was re­
flected from every feature of his face. He was dy­
ing literally of sorrow-brought upon him by the
events of those sad days, and which was so profound
as to have triumphed over the best efforts of his vir­
tuous and religious soul.: the proscription of Reli­
gion-the slaughter of so many Priests-the de­
struction of so many noble and ancient families,
who had been so much respected and loved in our
Brittany. But the event which put the last bitter
drop in his cup of affliction was the fatal end of the
expedition of Quiberon. Amongst those who were
put to death Oll that occasion, after having capitu­
lated, was the young Prince de Rieux, the last of that
ancient family, and one every way worthy to trans­
mit their name with honour. What made it more
sad, was that he would have escaped had it not been
for an almos't unavoidable mistake made by Mr. J oy­
aux himself, the most devoted adherentand friend of
the young Prince, 'and who would gladly have laid
down his own life for him. When the prisoners
had capitulated they were led to Auray/Ô a few
miles distant from the place of the action. where
Monseigneur de Hercé, the Bishop of Dol, the Count de Sombreuil,
who commanded the troops, and a large number of noblemen and Priests,
who belonged to the unfortunate expedition of Quiberon, were put to
death, in violation of the capitulation, in a large field or meadow near the
city of Auray. The place has since borne the name of the" Field of Mar-


Sinto1!- -VVilliam Gabriel Bruté. 195
,they were confined under a strong guard. After a
mock trial they were çondemned to death as Erni­
grés, and taken out by detachments to -be shot.
Still, even in this short interval many escaped, some
by accident, as it were! in the midst of the confu­
sion, and some by bribing the soldiers. Mr. J oy­
aux was at Rieux, the manor of the young Prince,
about twenty miles from Auray, when he received
a letter, written by a common and· zealous friend :
" Come immediately and bring 3,000 francs, and you
can save the Prince"; but on the back was written,
by some strange fatality: "You will be too late;
before you arrive the Prince will be shot:' Over­
come by his feelings, Mr. Joyaux dropped the let­
ter, and thinking all was over, gave himself up to
his sorrow, and it was not until two or three hours
�lad been lost that, recovering from his despair, it
occurred to him that he ought to have gone at any
rate. He immediately set off with the money, and
found, on arriving at Auray, that if he had arrived
a few minutes sooner he would have been in time.
The Prince had just been shot. The affectionate
heart of the good old man was broken, and the
faithful friend soon followed his beloved young
Prince. "·He was the last, Madame," I remember
hearing him say to my motlier: "he was the last,
the hope of that ancient and noble ra.ce, and I was
tyrs." A chapel has been erected near the spot, and the remains of those
who perished collected, as far as possible, and placed within it


Simon TVz'lliam Gabriel Brulé. 197
by his parents, and from that time they provided
for all the wants of his poor old protegée. Dear
Armand! he died young, in exile, obliged like so
many others to flee from France.
H is father and mother also died in exile-the
most charitable and beneficent persons in our city.
Madame de Montluc (though I was very young
then, yet I retain a most vivid recollection of her
features and appearance, of small stature, a most
placid, pleasing countenance and gentle manners)
not only bestowed upon the poor, with the consent
of her worthy husband, for they were of one heart
in all 'these matters, a considerable portion of
their income, but regularly visited them at t.heir
homes, and attended them in their sickness, render­
ing to them personally every office of charity with
her own hands. She overcame every natural re�
pugnance, and was deterred by 110 danger. At one
time our city was visited by disease of a very con­
tagious and disgusting character, but this gooel
lady only manifested the greater zeal. She was
everywhere, attending upon those who were at­
tacked by it, until at length an attached servant
who used to accompany her was so overpowered
by repugnance and the fears of death that he
actually refused to go with her any more, and she
continued to go alone and perform the most
menial and often disgusting offices.
The well-known Mademoiselle de Cicé was a


198 lVlúno'Írs o.f the Rt. Reverend'
Sister of Madame de Montluc. She resided in
Paris, and was a truly holy woman, so devoted to
deeds of charity that she could not avoid being
known and esteemed. This excellent woman was
on a very remarkable occasion tried for her life, and
came very near losing it, from the horror she had
of committing a venial sin, by telling an officious
lie, to save herself." In vain did her counsel re­
present to her the legal course of things, and the
danger to which the positive enactment of the law
exposed her; the judges, whatever they might
think or feel, being obliged to go the full length of
their inflexible line. She could not be persuaded
to d.eviate in the least, by a positive untruth, from
the facts as they were known to her. Her beau tí­
fu 1 candour was, after all, her protection. It excit­
ed the admiration of everyone in the court, and
36 I find the following circumstance related by Bp. Bruté, in one of his
Letters to Bp. Kenrick; speaking of the officious lie, he says: "It may
afford you pleasure to be made acquainted with the conduct of one of the
most eminent magistrates of the Parliament of Paris, who suffered death
rather than to tell an officious lie. Mr. Augran d'Alleray, the gentleman
to whom I allude, and who was equally distinguished by his piety and
eminent talents, had been accused and arrested on the charge of sending
money to his son, who had emigrated, contrary to the law. To acknowl­
edge that he had done so was certain death. The famous; or rather
infamous, Fouquier-T'a inville, the public prosecutor, notwithstanding his
ferocity, wished to save Mr. d'Alleray's life, and tried to get him to deny
it. But this excellent man could not bring himself to tell a lie even to
save his life. � Wast thou ignorant, citizen,' said the ferocious judge, 'of
the law which forbade you to do it?' 'No,' answered he, 'I was 110t ;
but I knew of a law still more sacred-that of nature, which commands a
father to succor his children.' This noble and touching answer W:1£ the
cause of his death; he was guillotined in 1794, agpcl 79 years."


Simon rV£!Nam Gabrùl Brulé.
199
the effect was heir-lite ned by the charming sim plie-
b ...
ity and modesty of her whole demeanour in so
critical él situation. Her account of the matter
was received, though unsupported by any other
evidence, and she was released, after having ob­
tained the whole merit of such a beautiful sacrifice
of pure love for God.37
37 I find appended to the above relation the following memoranda,
made by some one who has looked over these papers, but whose hand­
writing I am unacquainted with-probably a French Priest of the Diocese
of Vincennes:
" The author of this sketch of Mademoiselle de Cicé's trial ought not to
have omitted to mention that this trial was relative to an attempt to
assassinate Buonaparte, called the Plot of the Infernal Machine (24th De­
cember, 1800). Mademoiselle de Cicé was accused of having procured
a lodging for a man concerned in the plot, though she knew nothing of
him, but had done it at the recommendation of a most respected clergyman.
Summoned to declare the name of that clergyman who had recommended
the man to her charity, she said that in telling his name she would infalli­
bly deliver him to the same prosecutions and dangers to which she and the
two ladies (Mesdames de Goyon, mother and daughter) were exposed,
whom she had brought in that distress, but who knew nothing more than
herself of the man, and that the gentleman who had recommended him to
her charity was purely as innocent as themselves: wherefore she would
not cause one more misfortune. No threats, no danger, no supplications
were ever able to draw anything else from her, and she was acquitted from
complicity, not only by the universal admiration created in the court, not
only by the generosity of her silence and her meek deportment, but by the
depositions of some two hundred poor, or sick, or anywise unfortunate
persons of all the quarters of Paris, without distinction of opinions, who
declared that they were indebted to her charity or assistance for relief in
their respective circumstances.
" She was at that time the Mother Superior of the pious Association of
tile Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Mary, formed since the beginning of the
revolution, with the view of supplying to the religious orders, which were
destroyed, and presenting to pious women, the means of professing reli­
gious perfection, without being subject to the control of the civil authority,
just as the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus opened to religious men
the same opportunity.


ShlZOJl JYilliam Gabriel Bruté. 20 I
And yet, at that very moment, how strong and
imperishable was its hold upon thousands of hearts;
how fervently did every true Christian family pledge
its love and life to our blessed Lord; how con­
stantly did Christian mothers require of their off­
spring' that, no matter what happened, they would
rt.ver forget their duty to God! 'With how much
anxiety, and yet fidelity, did they endeavour, espe­
cially on Sundays, to supply the want of the pub­
lick exercises of Religion and sanctify the day in
their family! How many touching remembrances
come crowding into my mind, connected with those
. acts of fidelity to God in the midst of the dark days
which brooded over us! Death, prison, exile, were
the penalties. The decrees in which they were set
forth were posted at every coroner, and every day
witnessed how severely and unmercifully they were
enforced. Every city and town, and almost every
village, had its "Committee of Publiek Safety," as
it was called, armed with the most arbitrary autho­
rity, in the name of Liberty, and exercising it with
a vigilance and energy which rendered it at length
almost impossible for any number of Catholics to
meet together for Mass, or any other office of Reli­
gion. The Priests, as was to be expected, were the
particular objects of their hatred, and the greatest
cau tion and most secret hiding places could not
save them from the grasp of a host of informers
and blood-thirsty monsters, who almost any day


202 JJf(;'mo/rs o.f tite Rt. Reverend
had an execution to gratify their malice and e n­
courage their pursuits. Even in those families who
had a Priest concealed in their house, it was often
thought best not to hazard any celebration of
the Holy Sacrifice within doors; so great was the
danger and so controlling the terror, that in many
families all the members were not made acquajnt�
with the presence of the good man, whom some of
the most resolute members ventured to keep C011-
cealed in the face of death-death for the Priest,
and death for those who thus harboured the victims
and endeavoured to keep alive the last hopes of
Religion; the last hopes, indeed, they seemed, so ,
few in number and every day diminishing. No
Bishops, 110 Seminaries, no means of supplying the
gaps made. And then the malignity and power of
those who were labouring to erect Philosophy, as
they called it, on the ruins of Fanaticism, filling
the eyes of our poor youth with their gigantic
efforts and boundless confidence. Every aven ue of
good choked up or destroyed, and every evil infl u­
ence permitted to have full sway. Their very
songs, all the day long, in the shops and streets,
filled with insult and derision of the Clergy and the
ancient faith of the French nation, and often ex­
pressing their triumph at what they believed to be
its utter destruction. Those days are now happily
gone, but oh! how dreadful they we re while they
lasted.


204 Alemoirs of tite Rt. Reverend
.iv!"ore ill regard to our Sundays ill 1793.
" Come, it is seven o'clock n; and we all followed
mother to the Drawing-room; sometimes to an­
other room more retired. "Has Julian come?" she
would ask. Julian was the gardener, and came on
Sundays from our house in the suburbs. Julian and
his wife would make their appearance, and the ser­
vants from the other parts of the house. Then we
would all kneel, and sometimesmother would say a
few words, before beginning, in regard to directing
our attention, &c.; at other times she would say no­
thing; then a pause, save here and there a sigh­
some with faces hid in their hands; and then she
would commence, " In the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." All of us
making the sign of the Cross tog'ether, and then she
would go on with the service. All stood at the
Gospel; we stopped in silence at the time marked
for the Consecration. My mother's voice is still
sounding in my ears; her very accents are as pre-­
sent to me at this moment as if I was still listening
to them, as with a tranquil and grave ,manner, and
with a tone of unaffected but overawed piety, she
went through the service. I remember that some­
times she would give a deep sigh-it could not have
been otherwise, from a heart weighed down by so
many present horrors, with such sad anticipations
for the future-the past so dear to her, adding to th e


206 ltfemoirs o.f the Rt. Reverend
siderable in the Province, with a large estate, of
which her husband was the Intendant. The prop­
erty belonged to the Marquis de Poineaux. He was
not an emigrant, but lived half in concealment,
either at Paris or in other parts of France, where
the family had possessions. My Sister assembled
all the people in the great hall, and was, like my
mother, at Rennes, the family Priest; no less strict­
ly devout and careful; though I remember that
her voice of call and command, to gather us all togeth­
er, before beginning, was not so positive nor so much
, of the pontifical kind as my mother's. Her hus­
band, although a very religious man, was never
present, nor officiated. Though a man, and of a strong
mind, he had so much sensibility that the scenes
and associations always overcame him, and he could
not trust himself. I remember in particular that
one Sunday after the service was finished, as I went
up-stairs, I met him coming from another apart­
ment. "Gabriel," he said to me, "be not surpris­
ed at my absence; I cannot attend; my tears get
the better of me." And then he began to repeat
some verses from the Psalms which he had been
reading, and went on to express his horror of the
present impiety, his attachment to the Catholic
faith, and his determination to do everything in his
power to bring up his family in it.
Such were the Sundays of those times.


208 JvIe'moirs of the Rt. Reverend
which extended back into the garden. When these
cloors were opened the Altar could be seen from a
great n umber of the beds on the opposite side;
and there on that altar was the only sight to con­
sole hopeless misery. One poor girl, about twenty
years of age, I still remember--who was afflicted
with the most extensive, horrid ulcer, monstrously
swelled--the pains excruciating, so that no patience
or resignation could prevent her crying and sobbing,
even at the anticipation of having it dressed, how
much more so whilst it was being dressed, as it had
to be every day with the greatest care. The case
was a peculiar one, and the physicians had devoted
to her every attention and exerted all their skill for
many months, at the other hospital, but in vain;
and now she had been transferred to the Incurables
as a hopeless case. Her bed, I remember, was hap­
pily opposite the opening of those sacred doors, so
that from it she beheld the throne of mercy and of
consolation. And oh! how much did those poor
sufferers, nailed for the remainder of their lives to
such heavy crosses, need such consolation; and
then often, also, the Divine Victim came from the
Altar to visit them in their bed of pain and to
unite himself more intimately to them, and give
them grace and strength to carry those crosses after
him. Oh! how abundant are the alleviations pro­
vided for the poor and suffering in God's holy
Church. And then those Sisters, those living angels


210 J1fe:1ZJirs o.f th:; RI. Rc'verc¡zd
longed to a very respectable family in Rennes. She
had inherited considerable property from an aunt,
and was in the enjoyment of every comfort in this
life, but our Lord called her with His gentle voice
of special love to give up all and follow Him to His
abode at the sad Hospital of the Incurables; the
most trying and disagreeable of all our hospitals,
situated moreover, as I have said, in a low, marshy
place-they were always going to move it to a bet­
ter situation, but somehow or other they never did.
But when good Mademoiselle Desprcz heard the
uaice this did not keep her back. She did not say,
zY they will remove the establishment to a more
healthy place, or zj" I was stronger and had a better
constitution (she was physically a poor, weak little
body), or if, my Lord, you will be pleased to call
me to some one of your other mansions. These
thoughts and many others, very prudent and wise,
such no doubt as the young man in the Gospel had
who refused to sell all to follow our blessed Lord,
may have come in to her mind, bu t she did not lis­
ten to them. She did give up all and follow Him,
and shut herself up for the rest of her life with the
Incurables; and I 'remember that those who knew
her intimately remarked how great graces God be­
stowed on her, as the immediate reward of her self­
sacrifices and devotion. She had always been good
and kind, but God now seemed to' have lavished
upon her all these blessed treasures of tenderness


Sim01Z l>V£lliaJ1t Gabriel Bruté. 2 I I
and cheerfulness which she would need for her poor
incurables. I t beamed from her eyes, was marked
in her smile, and rendered her from the first mo­
men t a true Religieuse and perfect 11 urse. I do not
exagger�te at all, for I witnessed it myself. Her
plain and naturally unattractive face became radiant
with a heavenly serenity and comeliness, her voice
appeared as that of an angel, for kindness, and her
manner so cheering and at the same time tranquil­
lizing, nothing could be more pleasing. In fact, it
was noticed that there was something. peculiar, and
more than usual even in religious women, in. the ad­
mirable and not easily described dispcsit ions of the
Sisters of the Incurables. I often visited them with
my mother. "Voyez, mon fils," she would say to
me, "quelle serenite, quel air de contentement, ou
voyez vous le pareil dans le monde, c'est etonnant"
-and yet in reality not astonishing, when one re­
flects on the promise of OUf Lord to give an hun­
dred-fold of consolation and peace to those who
leave everything for His sake; but truly astonish­
ing to those \V ho are not in the line of those graces,
and dwell only on the various disgusting and incu­
rable diseases, and which it is their daily and night­
ly task to alleviate, not to cure, breathe that sicken­
ing atmosphere, which no attention can prevent or
dispel.
These recollections of good Sister Desprez call to
my mind Sister Magdalen of the Sisters of Charity,


2 I 2 J71cJJZoz'rs of tite Rt. Reverend
who for forty years had served the prisoners con­
fined in the narrow and confined Prison of St. Mi­
chael's Gate at Rennes. She went to the prison in
the morning and remained there until noon, and
from one hour after dinner until night, shut up with
her de.ar prisoners, as she used to call them, gener­
ally about IS0 in number. She was very old and
not very handsome when I knew her; but if hand­
some is who handsome does, then Sister Magdalen
was beautiful. She was beautiful, at any rate, in
the sight of the Angels. The kind words and kind
works of forty years, bestowed often upon the un­
grateful and repining, had given to her aged and
wrinkled face an air of benignity and patience which
110 one could have passed by unnoticed. But the
Revolution reached even Sister Magdalen in the
prison. Her dear prisoners were let loose to be­
come cùieens , to enjoy the reign of equality, and
liberty-and the Priests and persons like Sister
Magdalen were put in their place at St. Michael's
Gate. It would have been no hardship, however,
to Sister Magdalen to be shut up in prison, so they
turned her out on the world, with which she had
had nothing to do for half a century. I remember
. well when Sister Bonne, the Superior oí t11e Sisters,
or Sister Servant, as the}' call it, brought Sister
Magdalen to my mother's house, the day they were
turned out of their old home by the revolutionists.
She came and stood before my mother in the par-


2 14 11femoir s o.f the Rt. Revermd
their labors; sometimes, though very seldom, for
other purposes. One of my earliest and faintest
recollections was assisting at Mass there, when my
elder sister was married to Mr. Mazcis. I was then
only four or five years old. So near a Church, as it
were, under the Altar and amidst the pillars which
supported it, did I enter upon life; and nearer still,
afterwards, did persecution bring the precious Altar
of our Lord. Under that Chapel, and, more pre­
cisely still, in the room immediately beneath its
sanctuary, did we erect our secret altar, during the
dark days of the Revolution, where two venerable
Priests, venerable by their age, and still more by
their pure and blameless and fervent lives, officiat­
ed. They were concealed in our apartments with
all that awful and anxious privacy which their own
safety and our own prescribed. One of them,
Father de Rosaire, a Dominican, the confessor of
my mother for many years, about 78 years of age,
with a head of snow-w hite hair, the calmest features
I ever looked upon, the simplicity of a child in all
his ways; the other, Father Pacific, somewhat
younger, say 75, a Capuchin, once much revered in
the order, and holding positions of authority and
confidence-a man of higher talents than Father ele
Rosaire, and equal virtues. In that room they both
slept and lived, and there also they offered up the
Holy Sacrifice. Each morning, when they had fin­
ished their early private devotions and preparatory


2 16 lIl"emo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
Mr. Bouvet,
Mr. Bouvet was an old merchant, retired from
business and leading a pious life, half separated
from the world, still enjoying every day at his
house the company of some friends, long accus­
tomed to visit there without disturbing his parti­
cular habits and exercises of piety. Amidst Iiis
practices was that of a few moments' retreat and
spiritual consideration or reading, alone, some time
after dinner. He withdrew for a while, then re­
turned kind, serene, polite, amiable to all; used to
that momentary absence, they did not mind it.
The regularity of its duration, as determined in his
little rule, secured his presence with punctual ap­
pearance. One day, however, he remained absent
much longer than usual; they grew uneasy at the
difference-waited awhile more-then yielding to
some fear that he might be indisposed, they went
up-stairs to his apartment, and to the closet; their
rap was not answered-nor a second-nor a call
aloud by his name-Mr. Bouvet! . . . . they
entered-the good man was sitting in his arm-chair,
his head gently dropped on the breast--his two
hands upon the page of a quarto book opened and
resting on his knees--the book of the City of God,
of St. Augustine, opened at the very chapter on the
happiness of Heaven. He read; he died; he went
to sec and enjoy.


SÍ1UOlt ""V£llz"am Gabriel Bruté. 217
Thus did Mr. Boursoul die in the pulpit of the
Parish of All Saints in Rennes, preaching on the
happiness of Heaven,· and repeating from time to
time through the discourse his text, " We shall see
Him as he is." At a last and most earnest repeti­
tion of the blessed words he dropped his hand on
the pulpit, his head on his breast, a long pause­
they thought it merely a pause !--it continued too
long; they hastened to the pulpit-the spirit had
fled. "He spoke of Heaven," said a boy in the
congregation, " lo ! he has gone thither !"
After the terror of I793, the Priests who had
prevaricated and taken the guilty oaths, often made
their retraction and did public penance, many with
marks of lively sorrow for their scandals. One of
them at Grenoble did it with such a degree of com­
punction that, after having spoken a while with
increasing fervour, he actually yielded to his grief
and died in the pulpit in that act of his exemplary
penance.


JOURNAL.
THE leaves of Bishop Bruté's Journal, preceding
what immediately follows, had been torn out and
destroyed, probably at some moment of particular
alarm. The first part of what was left had also
been torn out of the book, and is on loose leaves.
The i st Floreall (aoth April, 1795). The Chouans
1 The Revolutionary Calendar was as follows:
AUTUMN- Vendémaire, or the Vintage month, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 21.
Brumaire, Fog month, from Oct. 22 to Nov. ao,
Frimaire, Sleet month, from Nov. 21 to Dec. 20.
WINTER-Nivose, Snow month, from Dec. 21 to Jan. ]9.
Piuuoise, Rain month, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 18.
Ventose, Wind month, from Feb. 19 to March 20.
SPRING-Germinal, Sprouts month, from March 21 to April 19,
Floreal, Flower month, from April 20 to May 19.
Prairial, Pasture month, from May 20 to June 18.
SUMMER-.Messzaor, Harvest month, from June 19 to July 18.
Tñermïdor, Hot month, from July 19 to Aug. 17.
Fructidor, Fruit month, from Aug. 18 to Sep. 16.
All the public acts of the French nation were dated according to this
system for a period of more than twelve years. It commenced from the
22d September, 1792, which is marked as the first year of the French
Republic. It continued until the roth Nivose, an XIV (31st Dec., 1805),
when Napoleon restored the Gregorian Calendar. Few things marked
more strongly the mingled folly and impiety of the whole affair than this
new computation of time.
218


Simor: Wiiiia»: Gabriel Bruté. 2 19
having signed a Treaty of Peace, at the Mabilais,
the Representatives and Generals left Rennes at 2-
o' c. to go and meet them. A large crowd accom­
pa.nied them. About 7 o'c, in the evening a
discharge of artillery announce their entrance.
Among other Chouans, in company with the Re­
publican generals Krieg, Hoche, Hombert, and
the representatives, were Cormatin, Bunel, Du­
four, De J arri, Belle-vue and Bois-hardi, and
about a dozen others, comprising their servants.
Cormatin marched at the head of the procession,
with a branch of Laurel in his hand, crying out
from time to time, Vive la Paix, la réunion, les bans
Français, but no Vive la République. From the
Hospital to the Hôtel Châteaugiron the streets
were lined on both sides with troops and national
guards. Some few persons shouted Vive la RtjJub­
fique, the chief cry was Vive la Paix, but even this
without enthusiasm. A dinner had been prepared
for them, but it turned out to be a supper, for they
did not sit down to table until half-past 8 o' c.
The public were admitted to the dining hall in such
numbers that the dinner was served with much
difficulty. There were about forty at table, fifteen
of them Chouans, wearing the cockade, and several
of them with feathers in their hats. There were no
healths drank, and nothing remarkable occurred!
I came away about 10 o'c., and at half-past 10 all
was over.


220 Memoz"rs of the Rt. Reverend .
J}follday, I8tlt of lYfay. Messrs. Cormatin, De
•
J arri, and Duteilleul made a complaint to the de-
partment that since the Treaty of Peace more than
150 officers and soldiers had been killed; that the
Republican soldiers worried the peasants with all
sorts of exactions, and ill-treated them on account
of their refusal to wear the tricolor cockade, a
matter upon which even the Representatives had
shut their eyes, knowing that theywould never be
able to get the country people to wear an emblem
under which so many atrocities' had been commit ...
ted, any more than they could be made to look with
favour upon those who had become possessed of
Ch urch property, and had carried arms to vex and
injure them.
A member complained that they were still dis­
arming.
Mr. Cormatin replied that this was a consequence
of the mistrust which the farmers and country peo­
ple entertained of those who had oppressed them
and taken away their crops, but that it was not
done by his orders, and that he would endeavour
to have the arms returned.
They agreed to confer together often, and to
make known their complaints on both sides.
Monday, 25th May.· The Mondayafter Pentecost
Sunday it was whispered about that they intended
to arrest the Chouan leaders. Among others,
Launai, the keeper of the Tour de Bat, said in the


ilfemoirs of the Rt. Reverend
the market. To-clay I had a conversation with M.
Bunel and his son. M. Bunel told me that the
evening before his arrest he received a letter from
General Hoche, expressing the greatest satisfaction
at his conduct, and requesting him to come hither,
in order that they might confer together in regard
to the pacification. The next day the Chouans
who were in Rennes were arrested, and he at St.
Meen.
N OTE. - The Republicans have several times
broken the truce w hich was made on the 3d and
4th Floreal. Messieur Geslin and l'Hermilé were
massacred near Laval; another' day Allard was
killed at Retiers-severa] others whose names I
neglected to note down. I regret also that I did
not preserve an article by Mr. Cormatin, in which
he complains of eleven officers, 114 soldiers, and
seven Priests having been put to death by the Re­
publicans. I think that this number is somewhat
exaggerated, but there can be no doubt that many
were killed after the armistice. Some Republicans
were also killed .
. Friday, 12th of June. M. Chateaud'assis was
brought here to-day and imprisoned; also in the
afternoon the Rector of St. Jacut, and Father Loi­
seau, Jacobin of Dinan, who were never exiled.
Kuen left here to-day.
Thursday, 18th June. Fifteen men and five chil­
dren were brought in to-day-seized in their beds


SÙJZOll T-VilliaJ1t Gabriel Brut», 225
at Breal, as Chouans. There- is a rumor to-day of
the death of Boishardí, and the Dauphin.
M. Le Coz 3 came into the city with thirteen
others of the same stamp, to make their declaration
in regard to the decree of the I I th, and signed a
circular of about a pag�, which the city refused to
pu blish at its own expense. He caused prayers to
be said for the recovery of Mr. Barbier, who is
very ill.
Friday, 9tlt. The news of the death of the brave
Boishardi is confirmed; killed 29th Germinal. He
was Captain in the Regiment de Vaisseax.
Saturday, 20th. All sorts of provisions are dearer
than ever; veal 80 to roo francs the quarter.
. Six couriers have arrived, who confirm the news
of the death of Louis XVII. and the capture of
Luxembourg.
Tuesday, 23d. \Ve have news of B--- through
p--; he is doing well. Four Chouans brought in
to-day. Father Caillebat has retracted.
3 Le Coz was the intruded constitutional Bishop of Rennes. He had
been Principal of the College of Quimper and was elected by the people {?)'
under the new order of things in 1791. The true Bishop of Rennes at
that time was Monsigneur Barean de Girac, eminent for his virtues and
moderation, but who courageously resisted the intruder. Obliged after­
wards to leave France, he became the friend and spiritual director of
Stanislaus Poniatowski, the last King of Poland. He survived the Revo­
lution and died Canon of St. Denis (having resigned his See at the time
of the Concordat) in 1820, aged 86. Le Coz was one of the Constitutional
Bishops forced upon the Pope by Napoleon at the time of the Concordat.
He was made Archbishop of Besançon, and died in 1815. He was a man
·of irreproachable morals and considerable talent, but it was all made of
no effect by his obstinate and exaggerated constitutionalism.


226 lVIeuzo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
Thursday,2stlt. Martin, the Carmelite, who took
the civil oath and got married, made his retraction
to-day before M. de la Croix and three witnesses,
Messrs. Blouet, Caron, and Malenfruct. The con­
stitutional Rector de Gahart also made his retrae­
tion a short time since. A form of declaration for
the Priests to sign was brought to u= this evening.
I t has been printed and circulated. Most of the
Priests are opposed to signing anything of the sort,
The Redor of St. Saviour thinks it might be well to
sign a simple declaration to the following effect:
"We declare that we have always been submissive
to the laws, except in those points where they have
been contrary to the Holy Roman Catholic and
Apostolic Religion, and that we have always endea-'
voured to promote peace and concord amongst the
citizens. In faith of which," &c.
Friday, 26tii. I t was finally determined not to
sign any declaration. Mr. Cornue informed n:e that
Coz, in making his declaration, 'excepted the law of
divorce-the marriage of Priests, and other similar
points. A number of the Em£grés have made a
landing at Quiberon, after a naval fight, when the
English fleet captured three of our vessels .:
Saturday, 27t1t June. To-day the municipality
posted up its invitation. There has been a tumult,
occasioned by a large crowd of people who assembled
on hearing that the churches are to be shut up to- '
morrow. They marched to the City Hall, and were


228 ll,femoz"rs oj the Rt. Reverend
signatures in the different communes: the two
Mademoiselles Duparc, Mademoiselles Dusselainée,
Gerbier J ouanin, Hipolite Michel, Joffe, Le Tissier,
Robert, St. Trimoi, Le Vicomte, La Sauvelaye.
They waited upon the Representative, who said
that he would send their petition to the Conven­
tion, but that he could not decide anything definitely
himself.
Monday, 29t1t. During the forenoon nothing was
done, but in the afternoon the above mentioned
committee presented letters to each of the consti­
tuted authorities, those of the Department, the
District and the City, requesting them to give their
support to the petition which had been forwarded
to the Convention. They were but coldly re­
ceived; but they tried to cover up the matter, as
well as they could, in order to quiet the people, to
whom they said that the answer had been deferred
until Wednesday. From 15 to 20,000 signed the
petition before they ceased obtaining signatures.
This evening they brought in under arrest ten
suspected Chouans; one of them thus arrested was
a nephew of Mademoiselle Vatar, who, going on a
visit to Mr. Buret, happened to be without a pass­
port; -the others were seized at a dance at St.
Jacques.
Tuesday, 3 Ist. Orders have been issued for
cutting away the bridges, &c.
We'dlU'sda)" sst JUly. About 6 o'c. in the eve-


Simo» William Gabrùl Bruté. 229
ning large numbers assembled at the College; the
committee or commissioners above mentioned were
there, and twelve gentlemen were added to the
commission: Messrs. Varin, Colum, Blouet, Malen­
faut, Destrieux, L'Hermitage, the brother of Mr.
Guignard, Rapulet, two gentlemen from �the coun­
try, and three others whom I did not know. Whilst
they were assembled, a rumor was circulated that
the Mayor was coming, and to show the disposition
of the people, one of the speakers declared that if
the Mayor did come, and require them to submit
to the present state of things, their unanimous
declaration would be, "vVe will not." But he did
not come.
Thursday, zd. On Thursday at 2 o' c. the Clergy
met together at M. de Romilley's and drew up
. their declaration, which was presented to the De­
partment by a committee of five, viz. : Messrs. De
Romilley, Dom." J ehors, Rihet, Touchet, La Croix.
I twas accepted, and the commissioners very civilly
treated. The people were at first afraid that by
thus acting the Clergy would be confounded with
those who had taken the oath, but were reassured
by the explanations given to them. They com­
menced by putting the church in order, at the col­
lege, which had been "entirely despoiled.· The
people chanted the Te Deum, Hymns to the
Blessed Virgin, &c. The day after they had High
Mass.


S£m01t WilHam Gabriel Bruté. 231
that the soldiers were affected by it, and the Judge
was obliged to silence him.
Tuesday, 2d Sept. Mr. Ginguené, who was ar­
rested the 14th of August, was tried before the
military commission, condemned and shot this
morning, although he has been for a long. time
crazy, and had a certificate to that effect. When
led out to execution, he had no idea where he was
going, and said to the prisoners: "Good-by, my
friends; I am going to take a little turn which will
do me good." .
Sunday, 7th. The Constitution has been accepted,
eyen by the soldiers, to whom it was read the even­
irig before-more favoured in this respect than the
citizens, who knew nothing about it until the mo­
ment when if was proclaimed in the different sec­
tions.
Tuesday, 9th.
day .•
The elections were held to-
Monday, 15th. 1500 troops arrived here to-day
from Vitri. Eight Priests from the district of Dol,
four from Barenger, two from Tremblai, and one
from Marcillé, were brought here to-day, and al ..
though the Judge was obliged to acknowledge that.
they had been illegallyarrested, they were put in
prison,
Wednesday, 17th. The. Department has published
the Decree. Le Coz (the constitutional Bishop)
went and took the new oath, renouncing the restric-


232 Memo£rs of the Rt. Reverend
tions he made before, but declaring that he perse­
vered in them mentally.
Thursday, 18th. Some persons asked permission
of the Municipality to shut up the church, but they
forbade it to be done.
Thursday, 29th. A column of troops and four
pieces of artillery left to-day for the Convention,
with the Representative Matthieu.
Sunday, 8tlt Nov., 1795. Clermont has been killed
at Messac in an affair with the Chouans, who had
the advantage and killed many of the Republicans.
The Republicans abandoned the post the following
day, and brought their wounded here.
Monday, 9tlt Nov. Matthieu arrived here to-day,
and has called the Municipality to account for not
enforcing more strictly the law against Priests. The
Municipality answer him with firmness, but they will
be obliged to make a show of compliance at any rate.
Thursday, 13tlt Nov. They commenced jo-day
making domiciliary searches. They are made by the
Commissioners of .Police, with an escort of Geny
darmes. If they seize anyone they are to be taken
to St. Meen.
Saturday, 15th. The searches are finished. It so
happens that no one was caught.
Monday, Dec zd. The brother of Dupin has been
killed.
Thursday, 5tlt Dec. Twelve men and women sent
to Fougères to be judged.


Simon William, Gabr£el Bruté. 233
Saturday, 7tlt Dec. 1\1. Dessolles de Condrai
killed near the Hermitage. The two sons of the
Farmer at the Maison Elance, on the road to St.
Lallren t, were assassinated.
Sunday, Istlt Dec. Fifty-one men brought here
from Vesin, arrested at Mass. Douazel escaped
from St. Meen. Three persons, two of them
Chouans, e�caped from the Tower (Tour de Bat) and
a Chouan Captain from the Grand Prison.
Thursday, 1911t Dec. The Chouans seized a con­
voy near Mordelle and killed thirty men, abou t
- noon to-day.
Saturday, 20tft Dec. The diligence has arrived
from Paris; it was plundered of everythirig by a
party of Chouans, who carried away even the
horses.
Sunday, Dec. 21. Trial of forty-eight of those
who were arrested at Vesin; condemned to one
month's imprisonment, and a fine' of 100 francs each.
The Priest was sentenced to ten years' imprison­
ment in irons.
Tuesday, Dec. 23d. A new General named He- .
douville has arrived to replace Rey.
Wednesday, 25th pee. Two young men from
Pacé shot (fusillé).
I796, January ad. A man from Cuillé shot-the
father of five children. A convoy has been taken
by the Chouans at St. Merial and f9rty men killed.
Saturday, 9th 'Jan. The Chouans have taken


S£m01i TV/llianz Gabrùl Bndé.. 235
Ponsard, who said that he came to defend Rallé,
denied the competency of the Tribunal, and Le
Crochair proved in the most evident manner that,
according to the laws, especially that of the rst
Vendémiaire, the court was incompetent to try
them. The Judge, however, overruled them and
ordered the trial to proceed; at two hours after
midnight they were condemned to death, except
Rallé to 25 years in the Galleys. When they had
returner! to the prison, they asked for a Priest to
hear their confessions, and the General, having
been consulted, granted their request, and Mr. Ro­
Iarid ier, Curé of Beaucé near Fougères, who had
been brought from Vitré to the Grand Prison, was
sent to them. On Saturday, about noon, they were
led to execution by an escort of about ISO soldiers.
They exhibited the greatest firmness; Applagnac,
who was a strong man, about five feet seven inches
tall, with a large moustache, had the most of a mili­
tary air about him; their calm and steady bearing
seemed to awe the crowd who surrounded them.
They were shot in the meadow of Mt. Morin;
their last words were "Vive le Roi et la Reli-
gion. "
Wednesday, 20tlt :Jan. The City declared to be in
a state of siege by Giroust the Commissioner.
Friday, 2gt!¡, :Jall. The Chouans have captured a
convoy near Mordelles, and seized 6000 packages of
cartridges, with clothing, money, &c.; they killed,


236 111cmoirs of ¡he RI. Rez'erend
and took prisoners sixty soldiers of the eighty who
com posed the escort.
Thursday, 4tlt Feb. They began to-day to arrest
large numbers of young men.
Friday, 12tlt Feb. Two young girls condemned to
death for having carried powder to the Chouans.
Saturday, 13th. Madame Bellevue from La Croix,
Robert a hussar deserter, and a person named l'Ecri­
vain condemned to death.
Sunday, 14th. The five persons condemned on
Friday and Saturday were shot to-day; a baker boy,
who had got up into a tree to see the executions,
was killed by one of the bullets.
Wednesday, 17th. Hoche arrived to-day; left on
Saturday (zoth) for Angers.
[I omit many particulars from the Journal, each
day, filled up with accounts of skirmishes, arrests of
Priests and others, searches, &c.]
Tuesday, 2d March. Four Priests, M. Briart, Rec­
tor of Moulin 0; M. Gaignart, Prior of Arbresec; M.
Yvan, Canon of La Guerche, were brought here to.
day from La Guerche, and put in prison at St. Meen.
Tuesday, 9tlt Marclt. A detachment arrived from
La Poterie bringing with them three hats, with white
feathers, which they say belonged to three Chouan
leaders, whom they killed.
Saturday,22. It is reported that La Charette has
been seized.
Easter Sunday, Radiguel shot.


Sùnon ¡Vitliam Gabriel Bruté. 239
.J.�!farch 2 I, Tuesday. The elections commenced
to-day.
March 23, Thursday. The elections ended. Many
persons of extreme opinions, Terrorists and Repub­
licans, protested against them.
jWay 7t/�, Sunday. Mr. Coz (the constitutional Bp.)
had a first communion of the children of those who
adhere to him. They say that there was only be­
tween one and two hundred. Large numbers also
made their first communion in the houses of Ca­
tholics in the country Parishes, at Chautpie among
others, more than 240.4
June 5, Monday. Mr. Rebulet (a non-juring Parish
Priest), who had been about during the last week,
officiated publickly yesterday, in the forenoon and
afternoon. A large crowd of people attended-I
was told upwards of 40oo-who welcomed him with
enthusiasm.
June z ist, Wednesday. The Department has pub­
lished a decree restoring certain Churches to publick
worship. St. Germain has been vacated by the
troops; the College also. St. Aubin, which has
been used to store hay, St. Hélier and St. Laurent
have been reopened .
.. On a loose slip of paper I find the following notes in Bishop Bruté's
handwriting:
" Condition of religion at Easter, I797. The Easter duty has been
made by a large number of people. The Altars have been richly orna­
mented. On Thursday, the Paridises were superb-Vespers, &c. On
Easter Sunday, at the Madelaine and S. Hélier, High Mass-Blessed
Bread-e-Sermon-e-Solemn Vespers, as (If old."


Simon "VVilliam Gabriel Bruté. 243
very moderate discourse, with even a religious tone
about it.
There is much quarrelling between the returned
Chouans (Chouans rentré) and the artillery-men':
many wounded on both sides. Grimaudiere (Chou­
an) wounded' Bernis, gunner; La Voltais wounded
another gunner named Verdrix.
Tuesday, 30tlt JUly. Coz and �anjuinais left to­
day to attend the Council at Paris
August 3d .. Mr. De Boisteillul, deputy, arrived
to-day in company with the Rector of Chatillon and
the parish Priest of Orgerer.
August 6th. The eldest son of M. de Sto Hilaire was
wounded to-day by another Chouan, because he ex­
pressed himself against recommencing the Chouatlage.
August 6tft.· The banns of marriage were pub­
lished at S. Germain for the first time.
A ugust 15th. The Journal Chausseblallche has an­
nounced for some time, and particularly in its num­
ber for to-day (�o. 59), that they are attempting to
renew the Choua1Uige. It speaks of assemblies near
Becherel, of �he purchase of arms, &c., and attribu tes
it all to the Priests.
Picard made his retraction at the College.
The terrorists are signing a petition at the Corps
de Garde thoroughly revolutionary in its character,
and full of calumnies against the Priests. The
1\1 unicipality is endeavouring to hinder any more
from signing it.


244 lUellzoirs of the Rt. Reverend
N OTE.- The Revolution of the r Sth Fructidor
(Sept. 4th, 1797) having taken place, I was obliged
to discontinue and hide this J ournal. I have com­
menced another in the small book, marked Livre de
Banque.
Thursday, 21 Fructidor, An 5 (7th. Sept., 1797).
This morning at the parade, Moreau _read an account
of the Revolution, which took place (s'est operée) at
Paris the I 8th Fructidor,' and which confirmed the
rumors circulated yesterday evening. The courier
arrived at 5 o'c, this evening, but would make no
answer to the questions put to him; he had a pack­
age for Beaujard, within which was another addressed
to the Department, containing printed Proclama­
tions in regard to the conspiracy, &c.
Beaujard looks sad and embarrassed. Those whom
they call terrorists are very much excited, and have
a triumphant look. The news, as it becomes more
certain, has spread consternation and alarm on every
side, and seems to produce a feeling of discourage­
ment rather than active indignation. Strong patrols
have been formed for the night.
Friday, 8tlt September. Mademoiselle Pasquier,
one of the most ardent supporters of the Constitu­
tionalists, died to-day. She was attended in her
Ó The Revolution of the a Sth Fructidor was a reaction of republicanism,
or rather of the Revolution, against the evident return to royalist prin­
ciples. It was under the immediate guidance of Barras, but its real author
was Napoleon, who foresaw the end of his ambitious schemes if the Royal
family were restored,


SÙJlOJl lVz'lliam Gabriel Brulé. 245
last moments by Mr. Le François. Since the zealous
Lanj uinais and Coz wen t to Paris there has been a
great falling off from their party. The churches are
open and filled with people, but alarm is marked
upon every face. At St. Aubin a man walked into
the church, during the service, with hishat on, evi­
dently with the intention of insulting those who
were worshipping there.
Saturday, 9tlt Septemher, This evening the courier,
whose coming has been looked for with so m uch im­
patience, arrived. He brought none but the most
ultra republican pape!s; they contain the famous
Law of general security (loi de sûreté générale),
which violates so many articles of the Constitution.
Sunday, lOtIt September. At 5 o'c, this morning
all the churches were shut up. The High Altar of
St. Germain was only finished and dedicated on Fri­
day.
.
The famous Law was enregistered to-day. Au-
doin gave Mr. Thibaut a slap in the face, on the
Place d' Armes, because he àid not wear a cockade;
several persons who were present" seemed much
pleased at the insult, and took no measures to hin ..
der or repair it.
Monda)!, I I til September. The Priests' who have
taken the oath (to the civil constitution of the
clergy) went to the 1\1 unicipality to-day, to the
number of fourteen, to take the new oath which is
required.


246 111emoù'S if the RI. Reverend
The Fat/urs of tite Council lia ve taken it at Paris.
The Courier of this evening brings the appointment
of three new Judges. Langé preserves his place;
Poignaut, who is a man of great merit, and univer­
sally esteemed, and Robion, are 'replaced by Lemi­
nihi, Jr., and J curdain.
Saturday, 16tlt September, A Letter of the pre-
tended Councz'l, signed by Coz, President, and .Lan­
juinais, Secretary, printed at the office of the
Cùaussebiancñe, inviting the Bishops and Priests,
who have refused to take the oath, to open nego­
tiations for a reconciliation.
Tuesday, 19t1t Sept .. They �re taking up a collec­
tion among the "Terrorists" for a grand dinner,
to be given on the I st Vendémiaire. They are
already making preparations in the large Hall (i. e.
of the Parliament House, in which Madame Bruté
occupied apartments).
Wednesday, 20t/t September. Án order has been
given to arrest any Priest found, discharging the
functions of his office, but they do not look for
them.
Friday, 22d September. The Feast was given to­
day. See Bulletin de C1laussi'bla1lclze for details,
No. 80. Beaujard maàe a very revolutionary
speech; it was so bitter against the Priests, cette
caste abominable, as he called them, that the mode­
rate republicans took offence at it. Almost all the
·soldiers got drunk.


Simon TV/Iliam Gabrùl Brulé. 247
Sunday, 23d September. A report is in circula ...
tion that all the Priests are to be arrested ..
Tuesday, 25th September. General Rouland was
divorced to-day from his wife before the M unici­
pality.
, Sunday, 8th October. The Courier brings news
to-day. that the municipality has been turned out
of office; this news has afflicted all: honest people ..
Saturday, 14th October. Proclamation of the new
M unicipality, in which they declare their devotion
to the Republic and their attachment to moderate
principles.
Sunday, I Sill October. This morning a handbill
appeared upon the walls, on which five of the M u­
nicipality were hung in effigy ..
Mon day , 16th October. The two Commissioners
of Police have been turned out of office, and are
replaced by L'Hartel and Chevet, ex-Jacobin monk.
Sunday, 22d October. To-day. they celebrated a
Festival in memory of General Hoche; his bust
was carried in procession, speeches made, &c.
Saturday, '28th October. A Proclamation from
Beaujard has been published, ordering the arrest of
-all suspected Priests, and those who are subject to
transportation.
Monday, 30th October. At half-past 6 o'c. this
morning they commenced a very.rigid search after
the �riests. They arrested only five, who were
conducted tô St. Meen, where they w�re placed il1


248 J1Ícmoz"rs of the Rt. Revereud
solitary confinement, on bread and water: Father
Gilles, the Minim;. Pichou, Parish Priest of St.
] ohn; La Gresillornaie : Renaud and Dufeu, all
over sixty years of age, and some very infirm.
This evening a Courier arrived bringing news of
the peace with the Emperor. This courier an­
nounced also the arrival in Brittany of an army for
England, which is to be commanded by Buonaparte
(le courrier annonce aussi l'arrivée d'une armée
d'Angleterre en Bretagne, qui Buonaparte com­
mandera).
They' have arrested a Priest from Normandy, who
has been living as a clerk with Mr. Petitpain the
merchant. It was an apostate from his own coun­
try who recognized and denounced him to the
au thori ties.
[This was Mr. Delaitre, of whom an account is
given pp. 168-9 of the Sketches.]
Wednesday, Nov. 8tlt. The Priests imprisoned in­
St. Meen are kept in very rigorous confinement, are
not permitted to walk in the garden, or hold any
intercourse with those outside.
The niece of Mr. Massíot, Curé of Saint Hélier,
has returned from Fontenay le Compte, where she
went to visit him, but he was not there, having been
transferred to Rochefort, to be transported with fif­
teen of his fellow Priests. The guard who conducted
them to Rochefort robbed them of everything- they
had. They took away 400 francs from Mr. Massiot.


Sima» JVzl/¡'am Gabriel Bru/l. 251
Saturday, lOtIt Feb. General Desaix passed the
night here 011 his way to the coast.
ltlarc/" 16. The division of the army of Italy,
called" the terrible," and which has committed so
many excesses on its route, particularly at Laval,
arrived here to-day; the National Guard went out
to receive them; they were feasted by the munici­
pality.
�farch 18. The division left for Nantes.
.March at st, The primary assemblies held .
.. klare/t 23d. M uch confusion at some of the pri­
mary assemblies; the municipality sent soldiers to
protect the terrorists, who found themselves likely
to be ou tnurnbered by the moderate and decent
people. The soldiers drove out "les gens hon­
nêtes."
August 8tlt. A general search throughou t the
Department; here it was commenc.ed, in 'violation
of t Ize Constitution, at midnight. Among others
they searched the houses of Messrs. Jouin Dulerain,
father and son; De La Benneraye, De Blassac
Destullaie, Le Sonnel, J auzé, Cohan, Sillardine,
Rapetal, Monnier, La Massue, Du Plessix, La
Croix, Tellier, De Cognac; of Mesdames Rebulet,
De Bedée, &c., Mademoiselles Godard, Ergault,
&c. &c. They found nothing.
August 21st. Many Priests arrested in the coun­
try and brought here. At 10 o' c.last evening, they
gave notice to a number of Priests in the prison to


252 ¡lùmoz'rs 0./ the Rt. Reverend
get ready to start for Rochefort, which was easily
done, as they had nothing in the world, and at 40'e.
this morning they left, chained together two by two.
22d October. M. de le Neuville, émigré, was put
to death (fusWé) to-day.
20th Nouember, There was a terrible quarrel in
the streets to-day, between the Grenadiers who
arrived yesterday and the inhabitants; two or
three killed on both sides, and several badly
wounded.
December 1'5tlt. Joseph Sorette killed in the
country. [This was the good Priest mentioned in
the Sketches.]
December r6tlt. The Department has given the
Bishop's house to an association who petitioned for
it a short time since; they propose to establish
there a _literary and scientific society. Dauthon,
Professor of Natural History, is the principal pro­
moter of the plan; Rozais, Prof. of Physics; The­
baut, Prof. of Mathematics; Rabillon, Prof. of His­
tory; Lanjuirrais, Prof. of Legislation; Tua., Physi­
cian; Duval, Duforneau, &c.
February lOtit, 1799. William Duval killed.
l'lem. I went to Paris this year, r 799, and
ceased to keep a J ournal of matters at Rennes.
Germina], r r , 1801. Mademoiselle de Cicé
brought to trial for the affair of the 3d Nivose.


S£m01t W£llz"am Gabriel Bruté. 253
27tft. Collin acquitted of any accompliceship in
the affair of the 3d Nivose, but condemned to three
months' imprisonment and a fine of 300 francs for
net having made a declaration to the Police.
25 Fructidor. Visited Collin at St. Pelagie.
15 Ventase, Present at the Corps Legislatif at
the presentation of the Concordat.
21st. Entry of the Legate (Card. Caprara) into
N otre Dame. Consecration of Monsig. Bernier,
Pancemont and Cambacérès.
18 Floreal. The Senate reëlect Buonaparte for
ten years. Buonaparte desires that the people
should be consulted.
20tft. Order of the Consuls, signed by Camba­
cérès, proposing the question-" Napoleon Buona­
parte sera t'il consul a vie?"
3 Thermidor. Xavier Bichat died this morning
at 4 o' c., 3 I years of age, enjoying the very highest
reputation in his profession and giving the greatest
promise for the future; all his pupi1s loved him.
His father and mother were most excellent people,
very pious, and brought him up in the most Chris­
tian manner. When he first came to Paris he lived
with his aunt, Madame Bouisson, and was very
regular in the practice, of his Christian duties; but
afterwards, when he went to live with Dessant,
he became careless. Dessant's widow, with whom
he still lodged when attacked by his last sickness,
watched with the greatest care to keep him from


254 Me'J'Jzoz'rs of the Rt. Eeuerend
seeing a Priest; but yesterday evening the Abbé
Pinlibert, his former confessor (and who had been �
so zealous in assisting the persons guillotined d ur­
ing the reign of terror), made out to get to his bed­
side, and gave him absolution, in extremis. Bichat,
however, never gave in to the reigning impiety,
and was unimpeachable in his morals; but he was
led away by his love of science and reputation.
Let· us pray to God for the repose of his soul.
[This was the celebrated Physician of that name.]
18 Fructidor, 5 tIt Sep. 1802. This morning at
.half-past 6 o'c, I was called in great haste to my
aunt (Saulnier-Vauxelle) ; I found her insensible;
when I called her name, she opened her eyes, but
expired two minutes after my arrival. On Satur­
day, the Curé of St. Roch, who had been her friend
and director for upwards of thirty years, heard her
confession, and on Sunday night at 5 o' c. in the
morning he gave her the viaticum and extreme
unction. She was born in 1740- a Sister of Charity
since 1758. She was possessed of a warm, gener­
ous heart, very firm in her character, a good ad­
ministrator, entirely devoted to her duties-she
loved her holy vocation, grieved over it when it
was taken away, and hastened to resume it the first
moment it was in her power-the most disinterest­
ed creature-never seemed to think of herself, re­
fused all personal conveniences, always animated
by a spirit of faith and confidence in God, which


256 Memoz"rs of the Rt. Reverend
9tlt Pîuuiose. Collin let out of St. Pelagie, with
an order to go to N antes, and from thence to be
exiled to the Isie of France. I went security for
him.
Ott Easler Ui'gllI, 1803. Julien Duplessix, of
Rennes, died in my arms at midnight, after 17
days' illness-I9 years of age. Student in the Poly­
technique School; studious, intelligent, amiable,
loved by his fellow-students, a pious and faithful
child of Mr. Delpitz. Mr. Carron has given a
sketch of his life, 1815.
2 Floreal. Offered the situation of Physician to
the t st Dispensary; Parrier named Surgeon to the
kfaisoJZ de rorce.
I Floreal. Yesterday, Thursday, saw our Bishop
at Passy, who approved of my intentions.
27 Messidor. Went to Rennes.
-Fructidor, Montaux killed in a duel at Paris.
Veutidore alt XII. Heard the news of the death
of Mr. Châteaugiron, in London, 3 Ist of last Au­
gust-myoId Professor and good frien.d. Exiled
during the persecution; I have his portrait.
2 Brumaire. The eldes� Mademoiselle Château­
giron died this morning (I have worn her Chapelet
about my neck ever since 1818).
21 Brumaire. Confirmation at St. Mélaine : 800
children, small and big.
23. Started for Paris, with my brother Augustin;
mother approves of my choice.


Siuun: �Villi(lm Gabriel Bruté. 257
Frimaire 4. My first lessons at the Seminary
under Mr. Montague, Prof. of Moral Theology at
the Seminary of St. Sulpice, Rue Notre Dame des
Champs, No. 1456.
13t1z lI1ée/t, °18°4. Mr. Bourges de Blerye, Curé
of the Cathedral, died to-day; formerly principal
of the College. "He is a Saint in Heaven," writes
my mother, "but it i� an irreparable loss for our
city and the Diocese; hundreds of pauvres ùonteu»
have lost their support, and multitudes, I may say,
·of poor children. Everyone loved him. The Pre­
fect sent three times a day to find out how he was,
and called himself. The General Laborde ¿aIled
every day. He overworked himself; it was after
6 o'c: in the evening before he had finished his vis­
its and confessions, and then he had his office to
say, letters to write, and at 4 or 5 o'c, in the mortl­
ing he was in the Confessional again, hearing the
confessions of the children, &c., who had to go to
work. When he came out of the pulpit last Sun­
day he said, ' That is my last work.' "
roth October, 18°4. Entered- regularly into the
Seminary of St. Sulpice.
. 25tlt Nov. Monsig. De Maillé, Bishop of Rennes,
died. this evening, 5 lTI. after 5 o'c, I received his
last sigh and closed his eyes.
10. Appointed one of the clerks to serve Card.
Fesch's Mass at the Tuileries, before Buonaparte.
18. I'resentcd to the Holy Father (Pius VII.) M.


258 Jl1emo£rs of the Rt. Reverend.
Champion's books and his letter in regard to the
re-establishment of the Society. He raised his
eyes and hands to heaven and said "Faxit Deus."
How precious a remembrance that interview!
1806. Sœur Bonne died at Rennes-mother's
dear friend--Superior of the Daughters of Charity
at Rennes. Always chose the hardest and most
disgusting tasks for herself. [See Journal, p. 208.J
1807. Made acollection to assist Mr. J .....
M. Pied de Nogent gave me IOO francs. Lord
Shaftesbury, who was at that time at Paris with the
Duchess of Devonshire, sent me 240 francs, through
his friend M r. Nicholas McCarthy, to assist this
poor Seminarist. He had seen the Seminarists at
St. Sulpice in the Parish Church, and in giving this
money to Mr. McCarthy, he said that he wished
those angels to pray for him. He has an excellent
heart, said Mr.' McCarthy to me, very near the true
Faith
NOTES ON SOME OF THE VENDEAN OFFICERS WHO
WERE HERE DURING THE PACIFICATION.
CORMATIN is a small man, about 40 years of
a..ge, with an open, sparkling eye-speaks quickly
and with much facility; he is looked upon as a
man of decided talent. I have heard him speak
several times; he spoke easily and with elegance,
though some cf his phrases were rather too high-


Simon H/ilham Gabriel Bruté. 259
sounding; in the discussions his answers were
prompt and adroit. Activity out of doors is his
rôle. The people loved him very much and had
great confidence in him."
BUNEL--General of the Ille et Viiiaine. I knew
Mr. Bunel better than the others, having been in
his company more than twenty times at Madame
Savignac's (sister-in-law of Gohiers). He was a
young man, a little over twenty years of age; small
in stature, and much marked by the small-pox. He
looks feeble, but has the reputation of being very
brave (he is suffering at present under the effects of
a wound, received in a severe fight). He is grave
beyond his age, very civil, but cold and preserving
a very serious and reserved air in conversation. He
is also very active and constantly on horseback, not­
withstanding his wound.
CHARLES or BOISHARDI, General in chief of the
Câtrs du Nord, has most the air of a soldier about
him of any of them; of a good height, very strong
and active, about 30 years of age, open counte­
nance, with the appearance of a man very frank
and loyal; very brave, of which he has given plenty
of proofs, but without cruelty. Elizabeth found
II Cormatin's real name was Desoteau.x ; he was a native of Burgundy,
and served as an aïd-de-camp to the Baron de Viomesnil, in the war of the
American Revolution. He was afterwards at Metz, with the heroic Mar­
quis de Bouillé, and aided him in the attempt to save the royal family of
France. He took the name of Cormatin, which was that of his wife, at
the time he joined the insurgents in Brittany.


260 J},femoirs o.f the Rt. Rc'Z)ermd
fault with him for having signed the treaty of
peace. "There has been plenty of bloodshed," he
answered, "it will be better if we can succeed with­
out shedding any more." He said this with an air
of sincerity and bonùomie which rendered it very
touching, coming from his mouth. He is constant­
ly with Hom bert-is adored by his followers and
feared by the natíon.c-No'ns. He was killed the
zçth Germinal (t ôth June).
JARRI-Commander du Côte de Guer. A fine­
looking man, brown complexion, with rather a se­
vere countenance, and an air of hauteur about him
-spoke little; they were much attached to him in
his part of the country, particularly for the good
order he maintained.
]uLIE-Aid-de-camp of- Cormatin. The finest­
looking, man among theChouans ; tall, with a noble
figure.
VILLERS--A young man about J 5 years of age-:­
called himself Marquis, from Burgundy. They were
taking him with others to Brest, to make a sailor of
him, when he escaped and joined the Chouans. His
manners were easy, and he was not wanting in talent.
CHANTEREAU-I was not acquainted with him;
he was regarded as a good officer, but was discon­
tented, or jealous of Cormatin.
BEDEE-A small-sized young man, about eigh­
teen years of age, much loved by his Chouans.
DUGUESCLIN-I knew him and loved him more


Simon ¡Villiant Gabriel Brulé. 26 I
than any of the rest, except Boishardi, having often
met him and conversed with him at our neighbours'.
There was a mildness and kindness of heart joined
t� a chivalrous spirit about him that was charming.
His real name was St. Gilles and he was the
brother of the lady of that name. He was loved
by all who knew him; large stature, fine figure,
spoke with ease and gracefully.
REPRESENTA TIVES.
BOLLET-Sent here for the pacification; a harsh
man, detested by all; left in June, 1795.
GRENOT-Came during the pacification; a no­
body, according to common opinion; _ left roth
July, 1795, with Bailleul.
BAILLEUL-I knew him only by a very weak and
shallow proclamation against, the Chouans; left
roth July, 1795.
MATTHIEU-Came the first part of July; he was
looked upon as a man of ability; spoke well, and
was a good sort of man.


266
Append£x.
légalement & actuellement dans la Commune, à
peine par les Officiers Municipaux d'être traités
comme suspects, cette carte désignera le quartier de
l'habitation.
II.
A compter de la même époque, aucun Citoyen
ne pourra s'écarter de plus une lieue de son domi­
cile sans être pourvu de passe-port, à peine d'être
traité comme suspect; ceux délivrés antérieurement
au présent Arrêté sont déclarés nuls.
III.
Les M unicipalités tiendront un registre exact,
contenant les noms &·le lieu du domicile des Ci­
toyens auxquels ils auront délivré des cartes civiques,
& un autre registre d'enregistrement des passe-ports.
IV.
Tout Citoyen qui donnera asyle à un particulier
non muni de passe-port, sera réputé suspect & puni
comme tel, & si c'est un Prêtre réfractaire ou un
émigré; la Loi a prononcé la peine de mort.
V
Tout Citoyen des Campagnes qui ne sera pas
muni de carte civique à l'époque portée en l'article
premier sera traité comme suspect, sauf l'examen
sa conduite.


Appendix.
VI.
Tous les Citoyens sont en état de surveillance,
pour seconder les efforts des Autorités Constituées,
& arrêter tous les gens inconnus, suspects ou mal ..
veillans non munis de passe-ports ou cartes civiques.
VII.
Ceux qui refuseront de prêter secours à celui qui
aura saisi quelque individu mentionné en l'article
précédent, seront traités comme suspects.
VIII.
Les Comités révolutionnaires dans les lieux où il
y en a, & les M unicipalités dans les lieux où il n'y
a pas de Comité, recevront les personnes arrêtées &
les envoieront dans ie chef-lieu du Département,
& dans les trois jours au plus tard, ils adresseront
une expédition en forme des procès-verbaux au Re­
présentant du Peuple.
IX.
Ceux qui auront arrêté des individus mentionnés
en l'article VI., recevront des récompenses propor­
tionnées à l'importance de chaque individu qu'ils
auroient conduit aux prisons.
x.
Dans la décade de l'affiche du présent Arrêté les
Municipalités seront des états des étrangers qui ha-


Appendix.
269
XIII.
Les Autorités Constituées & tous les bons Citoy­
ens sont requis, au nom de la Patrie, de donner aux
Commandans Temporaires & autres Officiers supé­
rieurs, qui les seront parvenir aux Commandans des
postes, des notes & le signalement des individus er­
rans dans les campagnes.
XIV.
Le présent Arrêté sera imprimé & affiché dans
toutes les Communes, à la diligence des Agens Na­
tionaux de Districts, chargés spécialement d' en sur­
veiller l'exécution, & qui sont autorisés à le faire réf
imprimer.
A Rennes, le 23 Vendémiaire, l'an troisième de
la Répebüque Française, une & indivisible.
BOURSAULT.